Chanute, Kansas: Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum
Martin and Osa made silent-movie adventure travelogues, and came home with trophies such as a can made from an elephant's leg.
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I thought this was a perfectly wonderful museum of nothing. Since the Johnson's travels were financed by universities and corporations, those organizations got all they brought back with them. All the signs in the museum say the Johnson's brought back "masks similar to this one" or they used equipment "similar" to the display. There were a few items they gave as gifts to friends and family that have been donated to the museum but overall it was sadly lacking in authentic artifacts. I bought the book and they were fascinating people, but you wouldn't know it from the museum. It was a nice place to stop and cool off on an incredibly hot afternoon in a car with no air conditioning.
[Rebecca Parker, 02/14/2004]This is a museum dedicated to Martin and Osa Johnson, famous travelors who made silent films of their trips. Osa wrote a really neat book called "I married Adventure". Anyway, this has been listed here before. I'm just lettin' ya'll know that it moved to the much larger, swanker old railroad depot. Has a dress up area, gift shop, movie theater, and museum sections.
The museum's exhibit areas are open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.
[Donya, 10/20/2000]The Safari museum focuses on the Osa's adventure travels -- photography, memorabilia and native artifacts. Looks fairly classy, with nary a mummy or elephant leg trash can in sight....
I have been to the Twilight Zone. A little town called Chanute. Back in '96 I passed through for the night. Trying to find a hotel, I stumbled into the Safari Museum. In Kansas? Anyway, before I could ask about directions, a hefty woman had me shelling out admission, and I stood there speechless as she wobbled over to their little theater, and said she would love to show me any movie I wanted to see. I discovered that this place is a museum for the Johnsons, famous for their silent films of travel. After Large Marge left me alone I wandered up to the actual museum on the second floor. I have seen apartments bigger than this place: African masks, cases of artifacts, pictures of the Johnsons, and that's it. Really small gift shop downstairs.
[Fred Friedlander, 08/09/1999][Previous 5 items] Page of 2
Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum
- Address:
- 111 N. Lincoln Ave., Chanute, KS
- Directions:
- Downtown, at the intersection of E. Hwy 39/Elm St. and Lincoln Ave.
- Hours:
- M-F 9 am - 4 pm, Sa-Su 12-4pm. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 620-431-2730
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May 2007: Conrad Froehlich of the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum notes, in response to Rebecca Parker's comments: "1) they were never financed by a university, 2) corporate sponsors did not receive their collections, and 3) the masks, equipment, and other artifacts in the museum are indeed authentic."