This is a gem of a museum. We typically travel through Hayes twice a year and have been wanting to…read morevisit the Sternberg Museum. So, we finally planned our itinerary so we would be in Hays when the museum was open and when we could allow time for a visit. We were not disappointed. The staff at the front desk were amazing, especially the gentleman who I learned later was actually a paleontologist. He was very eager to talk about the museum and what attracted us to it. The main exhibits are on the 2nd level with a large, walk-through diarama on the 3rd floor. The exhibits were great - especially the famous "fish-in-a-fish" fossil. If you have any interest in natural history, you need to visit the Sternberg Museum.

The Sternberg is more than a natural history museum, it's an all immersive experience…read more Its exhibits go into great detail to show what Kansas life was from a few hundred years ago to a few million years ago. Dinosaurs, fossils, fish and wildlife, local settlers and inhabitants. It's all here. One of my favorite exhibits features live reptiles from the local habitat (turtles, lizards, etc...) that are paired up with displays to show how they evolved to their present state. I also like the educational discovery rooms. These rooms are full of toys, books and games. There's even a whale's skull. Do you want to dig for fossils? There's a pit where you and your youngsters can dig until your heart is content. Please watch the museum's website. They post interactive educational activities that are fun for all ages. I visited for a couple of hours. I could have stayed longer. I highly recommend.

This was a great historical site visit. When I visit places, I am interested in the rich history so…read moreI try to schedule a trip somewhere while we are visiting to give me the history. Fort Hays Historical Site is the location of Fort Hays, Kansas and it's inception. This was formerly names Fort Fletcher but was renamed. This Fort was a very important part of defending our Nation's Union Army during the Civil War. I have often been educated by my family members about the Black Soldiers who fought alongside the Union Army; the were The Buffalo Soldiers. They were also stationed here at Fort Hays. It was great to see all of the exhibits. 3 original buildings remain on the land: 1. The Blockhouse, 2. The Guardhouse (Jail), and 3. The Enlisted Officer's Homes. This is where General Custer and his wife lived while he was stationed at Fort Hays. I highly recommend visiting this place if you are ever in Kansas. Thank you Kansas for maintaining our rich American History.

We made a side trip while in Kansas to see this fort. Completely happy we did. Not many buildings…read moreon the grounds, but is there is impressive. The displays are top notch. Staff is friendly and proud of the site. Kansas does it right!

Don't go out of your way. We spent 25-30 minutes looking at crumbling buildings. The history of…read moreNicodemus - the past - is glorious and uplifting. The present tense is not worth the trip unless you find yourself driving along Kansas-24 and need a short break from the road.

Nice little NPS site. Very glad they are preserving this part of American history. Very friendly…read moreand informative rangers. Decent junior ranger program. There is just not a lot of the history to engage with onsite. If in area, definitely worth a visit.

Well worth a visit! Great staff and with interesting displays that flows through history nicely.read more

I am a sucker for old school encyclopedic museums, and this one is pretty iconic in this arena…read more It's eclectic, filled with oddities, and super fun for the whole family. Where else are you going to see dinosaurs, mummys, and a handwritten letter by Elizabeth I? I really enjoyed walking around, exploring, and I know my kiddo did as well. It's in an old building downtown and has loads of charm everywhere you look. 4/5 stars because I thought the kids play area was a bit of a letdown - it felt a bit dirty and neglected. There also isn't a cafe, which I think would be a fun addition if they ever plan on expanding or remodeling. The exhibits were wonderful though, and I thought for the price it was a great deal. Overall I'd for sure go back and if you're the kind of person that enjoys something off the beaten path, or has a love for old stories and a solid diorama, this is the place for you.

We were in Oakley to see the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center on our way to Monument Rocks and Little…read moreJersuleum State Park - both just about 20 miles south of Oakley. While at the Buffalo Bill Center, we spotted signs for the Fick Fossil and History Museum which is practically across the street from the Buffalo Bill Center. So, we decided to stop for a quick visit. This is a great little museum and was an unexpected find in the middle of Kansas. In my opinion, this was more of a history museum than a fossil museum although they did have several impressive fossil displays. Having recently visited the Sternberg Museum, I was more interested in some of the historical exhibits than I was in seeing more fossil displays. Admission is free; it's convenient to I-70 (Oakley exit). Allow 1-2 hours, longer if you have kids.

This museum was awesome! My sister and I stopped in here on our way to Denver and it was an amazing…read moredecision. It was free to enter and no more than 2 minutes off of highway 70, so no worries if you're on a budget. We planned to get in and out in an hour, which did not happen. We took 2 hours. It was very very fun, but don't come here if you like fossils and have somewhere to be! All of the fossils were found here, and they also have a wide variety of natural, local, and American historical artifacts. They even had some artifacts/pieces of stone from international landmarks (like Vesuvius and Egyptian tombs)! All in all, a very neat little gem off the side of the highway.

This gallery was highly recommended by a lady working in the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center, Sadly,…read morewhen we arrived around noon on a Wednesday, the gallery was closed and we did not get to see inside. We'll keep this on "our list" for our next trip through Oakley, Kansas.

If you're into fossils, this is a five star. For everyone else, some cool looks as serious fossils,…read morelocal murals, and friendly folk. I also scored a classic Brownie camera her for 5 bucks! Chuck and Barbra are knowledgeable, and are connected in the fossil world all over. They've lectured across the U.S., and have friends in serious places, like at New York's Museum of Natural History. I mostly enjoyed the conversation, and when Chuck explained some of the fossils and murals, I appreciated them much more than I would have otherwise. If you're a museum type, check this out.