Caldwell, Kansas: Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World

The last time I was in Caldwell, Kansas the beautiful painting of the Ornate Box Turtle was still on the side of a building on Main Street. The town has two museums which have a variety of interesting items in regard to the town, including information about the turtle.

The Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World is far from dead! Caldwell, Kansas is very proud of its history, and part of that history is the fame it has gained by being known as the ORNATE BOX TURTLE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD since 1986.

The town has a lot of wild west history too! I was told that at one time in the 1870's this wild cow town had more prostitutes per capita than anywhere else on earth! Fights and gunfights often took place on the streets of Caldwell. Two museums in town document the history. They are open by appointment. A man by the name of Carson Ward is one that can show people the museums and answer many questions about the turtle and the wild history of the town. Just about anyone in town is willing to answer questions and assist those wanting to know more about the town's history.

A very well done and colorful painting of the state reptile of Kansas on the side of a building on the main street in Caldwell, Kansas. You can't miss it when driving north on main street. We were told it was painted by Marty Capron, who paints murals on buildings in Kansas. We drove through Caldwell after reading about it on RoadsideAmerica.com once being the Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World.

A lady at a small shop near the painting told us Caldwell is still the turtle capital. She had a few post cards and other turtle items for sale.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary (1986-2006) of the Ornate Box Turtle as the state reptile of Kansas, a professional wildlife artist has designed a special t-shirt. Marty Capron of Oxford, Kansas designed the shirt.

Marty is the same artist who did the very large painting of an Ornate Box Turtle on the side of a building on Main Street in Caldwell, Kansas. Information about the t-shirt along with links to historic photos and other Ornate Box Turtle related materials can be found from www.KsHeritage.com. Just click on Ornate Box Turtle links at the top of the page and follow related links.

There is very little in town about its turtle history at this time, but the big TURTLE painting by Marty Capron of Oxford, Kansas is still on a Main Street building. Also, the high school website gives information about the Ornate Box Turtle. I have also heard that some people in Caldwell plan to put some type of display together for the local museum.

Two photos of interest: One is of Kansas Governor John Carlin signing the official bill in the high school gym on Monday, 14 April 1986 as students from the 1985-86 Caldwell class watch. The other is of the late Cleta "Ornate Turtle" Baker showing one of her pet turtles to two visitors from Topeka, Kansas. It was taken about two years before her death and the closing of her shop, Cleta's Etc. Shop, which was located on Main Street in Caldwell.