Boot Hill Museum
Historical Museum Expansion Exhibit
BRINGING A WILD STORY TO LIFE
In many ways, Dodge City, Kansas, was seen as the original Las Vegas—a place to chase fortune, dodge bullets, and write your legend. Boot Hill earned its name as the final resting place for outlaws and cowboys—and inspired the iconic TV series Gunsmoke. It was rough, rowdy, and unforgettable.
When the Boot Hill Museum set out to expand its indoor storytelling, it wasn’t just about adding artifacts. It was about capturing the swagger, grit, and dark humor that made Dodge City famous. With the vision established, we were challenged with bringing the artistry to match that energy—translating early exhibit concepts into bold scenic environments, tactile interactives, and layered experiences that reflect the town’s outsized personality.
SERVICES:
– Project Management
– Elevation Drawings
– Graphic Production
– Fabrication
– Installation
SETTING THE STAGE
To ground guests in the world of 19th-century Dodge City, we recreated the textures and architecture of frontier life. Full-scale building facades paired with rustic signage and weathered finishes line the gallery walls. A towering windmill replica completes the scene, creating a streetscape that feels lifted from the past.
SIGHTS, SOUNDS, AND A STAMPEDE
In a multisensory highlight, visitors encounter a life-sized buffalo mount alongside a rumbling-floor effect that mimics the chaos of a stampede. The sound and movement capture the power of the plains and pull guests into the story.
BRANDS, THREADS, AND TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Mounted on raised platforms, original branding irons are displayed alongside a family cattle-brand book, offering a tactile, visual entrée into cattle culture. Nearby, a series of glass cases show off popular clothing styles from the era, making it easy to imagine life on the prairie.
NATIVE VOICES, CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
A hand-built tepee honors the Native peoples who called the region home. Through interpretive displays, visitors discover the toys, games, and traditions that formed the lives of Indigenous children.
CONVERSATIONS ACROSS TIME
At a series of touchscreen kiosks framed in rugged wood, guests “meet” the larger-than-life characters who shaped Boot Hill. These interactive portraits use video and audio to simulate conversation, letting visitors hear personal stories straight from the mouths of legends.