When it comes right down to it, it is all about the marketing, isn't it. Perhaps it shouldn't be, but often it is. Since last year my sister and I had talked about going way down to Duncan, Oklahoma to see the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. It seemed to have everything we were interested in seeing in one location. It promised so much. It looked so great in all the online information and on the slick brochures handed out at the tourist information sites.
My biggest concerns were that there might be too much to see and do and there might be hoards of screaming children detracting from all the good historical atmosphere I wanted to absorb. My worst fears were not realized.
When we finally got there after lunch at Applebees, the parking lot was nearly empty. The statues and signages were impressive. I hoped they were open.
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My biggest concerns were that there might be too much to see and do and there might be hoards of screaming children detracting from all the good historical atmosphere I wanted to absorb. My worst fears were not realized.
When we finally got there after lunch at Applebees, the parking lot was nearly empty. The statues and signages were impressive. I hoped they were open.
See doesn't that look impressive?
This is a life sized or nearly so statue. And it answered my question as to whether there were dogs on the trail. See out to the left?
Inside we paid our money. We watched a movie about the trail whereby we were splashed on and shaken in our seats. Since there were only about 5 of us in the theatre it seemed a little overdone. Then we went to another theatre and had talking robots dressed like cowboys tell us stories about the trail. There were three of us in that. Above is the chuck wagon. When I touched things they talked to me.
Then there was a display about wildlife. And a room with artwork and another one about black cowboys. That interested us a lot. The air conditioning was great.
Overall, Duncan, OK was not worth the drive. It was a small museum in which a lot of money had been spent to make nice displays and films. It was all about the marketing. It wasn't bad, it just didn't meet any of my expectations. I still have a lot of questions about the Chisholm Trail.
Anyway, disappointed, we headed for Kansas. Oklahoma was OK, but Kansas was spectacular!
(More tomorrow)