Boot Hill Museum has been selected for the third annual Landmark Arts Project. Each year, a historic landmark in Ford County will be selected as the focus for the project. Area youth will be provided with historical information and tours of the location to inspire the creation of artwork related to the landmark.
Pieces created by students will provide an avenue for developing a connection with local history and art in the community as well as the opportunity to showcase their work.
The story of Boot Hill began with a cemetery in 1872, followed by two Third Ward School buildings. After the new City Hall building was constructed, the Dodge City Jaycees worked to capitalize on Dodge City’s wild and wooly past.
The original museum building at the top of Boot Hill was completed in 1947. The first six buildings of the Front Street Replica from Rath & Wright’s General Outfitting Store to F. C. Zimmermann’s Hardware Store were completed in 1958. 1964 brought the replica expansion to the Beatty & Kelley Restaurant. Many buildings and exhibits have been added to the museum complex over the years. The new gift shop and Mariah Gallery opened in 2020. Exhibits opened in the new building in 2021 and the Long Branch Saloon was recently remodeled.
Submissions will be on display in the Mariah Gallery at Boot Hill Museum from April 21 through May 8. Participating classes will each receive $500 for art supplies. In addition, FCHS has created a scholarship fund for full-time Ford County students attending Dodge City Community College to further their education in the arts. Funding for this project was provided by the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas and the Community Facilities Advisory Board.
Boot Hill Museum will host a reception for the exhibiting artists in partnership with FCHS on Thursday, May 8 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Mariah Gallery. Awards will be presented at this time and the public is encouraged to attend.