national frontier trails museum

We visited at the end of a tiring day so we spent only an hour there; but it's a good museum if you want to learn about the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail, and general life and travel conditions as European-descended people (I am one) spread through the West.

This was a great museum and a perfect place to start if you're in Independence to see/learn about the pioneer trails. I wish I could've spent more time here, we rushed through and didn't get to absorb most of the exhibits. They have a nice gift shop. Afterwards we went and viewed the wagon swales which are about a quarter mile from the museum. They were a little hard to see for the untrained eye, but so cool!

This is a small museum and some of the features (wagon to load) were not working on the day we visited. There is a good introductory film and interesting information about four of the major pioneer trails (Sante Fe, Oregon, Morman and California trails). Tidbits on "why" different pioneers chose to make the journey were very interesting. There were several artifacts on display too. We spent about 90 minutes at the museum. We disappointed that they did not have a map of the surrounding area (was one display inside the museum but that was no help when we went outside).

This is not an easy place to find, and once you do, you will be asking yourself what will this museum be like, since the building needs a refresh. Don't let that stop you. This museum chronicles the beginning of all the great trails westward- Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon Trail. If you enjoy American history, this should be on your bucket list. What was especially interesting was an exhibit that showed various people with their reasons for heading west. It is well curated for each of the trails and will pique your interest to know more.

It had been a life long dream of mine to visit this museum as I am hugely fascinated with the wagon trails that rolled over the prairies and mountains in search of new lands and homes. The museum had a very nice film giving some basic information about each trail and many, unique and informative displays and personal stories from the trail. It was fascinating to get to see one of the Conestoga wagons favored in person. My two teens also had a great deal of fun loading their own scale wagon with scale supplies- their packing skills, however, need work. :)The only thing that kept me from giving this museum an excellent rating was the lack of upkeep across the road at the site where the wagons gathered and started their trek west. All of the interpretive plaques had been peeled off their stands making it difficult to make full sense of what you were seeing. Had I not already had some experience with finding the swells- no actual ruts as you are expecting here- I would have felt completely lost. All in all, I have to say this museum is definitely worth the modest price of admission. Just ask for some advice interpreting the field and wagon swells before you cross the road.

LOTS of history here and you could be there for hours to cover so much or could do it in smaller amount of time. Don't miss it.

This is a smaller museum with so much local history about all of the trails that used Independence as a "jumping off" point to ways west. There is information on the Oregon Trail, California Trail, Santa Fe trail (mostly a trade route), and others. If you are in Independence are interested in learning more about the migrant pioneers that traveled westward, this museum is not to be missed. Gift shop is also excellent. Entrance fee is nominal, and worth every penny! There is also a train depot on the grounds open to visitors as well.

The museum is showing its age in some deferred maintenance elements. However, the displays, while a bit dated, contain interesting artifacts, well presented.

Our 10 year old daughter loves history and is especially fond of the 1800s. Maybe that's why this was such a hit for her, but hubby and I really enjoyed it as well. There is a lot of reading but as always, you can choose how much you want to soak up. It was small so it did not overwhelm you and was kept in date order so you stayed on track. It was $6 for adults and $3 for children 6-17. We felt it was worth the cost. We spent just under 2 hours there.

This small museum had info on the 5 westward trails used. We were only there about 20-30 mins. I was hoping for more Lewis and Clark, but they did have some neat displays!

The museum was smaller than I thought it would be, but the displays are very high quality. There is quite a bit of reading, but as long as you are a history buff, you will find it interesting. Worth a stop.

It was perfect to introduce my grandchildren to the trails west. I wanted to spark an interest in history that they should be learning about in school next year. I would have liked more interactive stations in the museum. They loved the simple spinning a wheel to see how well they would have done had they gone to California during the Gold Rush. It taught them that most didn't do very well. More things like that would have kept their interest longer. Most kids don't take the time to read all the info on the walls, and it usually doesn't stick with them very long. We took the covered wagon ride that was offered, and the guide was outstanding. The kids loved it and learned a lot.

Took family to this indoor/outdoor museum. Took a horse drawn carriage ride, watched skilled tradesmen perform. Very good way to spend the afternoon. Kids loved it. Would highly recommend!

We live at the end of the Oregon Trail so we were excited to see what the beginning of the trail looks like. This museum does a very good job explaining how this area was the launch point for several pioneer trails, not just the Oregon one. The museum is a little worn and needs a few more interactive exhibits to liven it up, but overall it does a good job of conveying the history of the area. The gift shop had a good collection of books and souvenirs, too. VERY quiet on a Wednesday.

This is a great museum about how people got to the West of the United States to create the cities and states we know today. An excellent description of Lewis and Clark, the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, the Santa Fe Trail and the Mormon Trail. Exhibits explain the hardships involved and what a hardy people followed these trails.