We've put in some long hours, but we can now see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Floris Weiser's priceless collection of historical artifacts has been installed in our new addition. Jerry Thomas has donated prints of several of his prairie and fort related paintings and the finishing touches in lighting are being completed. Although we're not quite ready for a grand opening, we are certainly beginning to count down the days until this project is completed. In the meantime, if you'll excuse the remnants of construction that still remain, you are welcome to be among the first to view the entirety of this collection. Stop by the museum today!
(July 2007)

    A little snow can't hold these volunteers back! Despite a three foot snow and several days of blizzard conditions this winter, progress on the A.E. Smith addition has been steady. The interior is nearly completed and the last touches on the new artifact cases are finished. The final carpet is being laid in the addition and soon artifacts from Fort Wallace's best days will begin to be hung on the walls. A scale model of the fort (which unfortunately is no longer standing) has been commissioned and murals of the Officers Quarters are being prepared. All in all, the members of the Fort Wallace Memorial Association have been busy making an appropriate home Floris Weiser's astounding original collection.
    Although planning, building, and completing an addition of this size may seem like enough for one year, the Board has applied for and received a grant for the renovation of the Pond Creek Stage Station. Originally a stop for the Butterfield Overland Despatch, this station is over one hundred years old and retains all its original lumber and furnishings. Unfortunately, for several years now the building has been noticeably decaying. The awarding of this grant will allow the museum to completely renovate this historic building, preserving what is certainly one of the last buildings of its kind.  
    Jerry Thomas has graciously given the Fort Wallace Museum the rights to reproduce two of his finest paintings concerning Fort Wallace, namely "Get 'Em Boys" and "Scouting the Trail". Accordingly, copies of these magnificently detailed paintings have been made and are available for sale through the museum. Please visit this page for more information on the history surrounding these paintings as well as information concerning their purchase.
(May 2007)
   

   On Sunday, September 17^th, 2006 a ceremony will be held to dedicate the new A.E. Smith Addition to the Fort Wallace Museum.  This new part of the building has been created to house the Floris and Viola Weiser Collection of Indian Wars-era artifacts and the art of Jerry Thomas, which will be combined to create an exciting new gallery of Western history and images.
   The new room will be honored with a cornerstone ceremony by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of  Masons of Kansas,  Grand Master Steve Molstad presiding.  Masonic dignitaries from all over the state will be in attendance.
   Special honorees will include Mr. Joe Smith, donor of the addition, Mr. Floris Weiser, collector and donor of the artifacts, and Mr. Jerry Thomas, nationally-recognized history and wildlife artist.  The addition is dedicated to the memory of Joseph P. and Emily Smith, early Wallace County pioneers.
   An added feature for the afternoon will be a drill and review by the newly-revived 7^th Cavalry mounted re-enactment unit.  Riders using 1860s-era uniforms, weapons and tack will perform the authentic maneuvers used to train soldiers on the Fort Wallace parade grounds 140 years ago.   Mr. Jake Bauer of Oakley has been a major organizing force behind the revival of the drill team.
   All are invited to attend!  Please bring lawn chairs.  In case of inclement weather, most of the ceremony will be moved inside the new room.  The ceremony will begin at 2:00 pm MDT, with a reception to follow.
(September 2006)

   In the past it has been mentioned in the Oakley Graphic, the Hays Daily News, the Colby Free Press and other prominent local newspapers.  Just recently it appeared in the Western Times—accompanied with an announcement that it had finally found a home.
   Everything started in 1973 when a man named Floris Weiser decided that hunting for old coins with a  metal detector sounded like a pretty good idea.  Soon after, Weiser forgot about being a coin hunter and began what has become his passion...locating artifacts once belonging to the U.S. Cavalry and the Indians they fought.  Ever since, Weiser has spent untold hours scouring the Kansas Prairie (mostly near the town of Oakley, KS) for the remnants of the struggles between the Indians, settlers, U.S. Army, and Mother Nature.  The majority of these artifacts pertain especially to Fort Wallace.
   Now, 45 cases of artifacts and 33 years later, Weiser has decided that it is time that his collection is returned to the men who essentially donated the artifacts.  As Fort Wallace and its Cavalry no longer exists, the Fort Wallace Museum (overjoyed at being offered such an extensive collection of artifacts) has humbly accepted in their place.  Possibly one of the most extensive and well-documented collections of Fort Wallace artifacts in existence, the addition of these cases to the museum will be a major boon to the museum as a whole.
   This collection is not just a conglomeration of random bits of metal thrown in a box.  Each time Weiser located an artifact he carefully noted the date and location.  For every field he searched he drew out a grid and charted a map that would detail that artifact’s exact location in relation not only to the landscape, but to other artifacts as well.  Later, Weiser assembled entire cases out of his finds and used that information to begin telling a story of what had happened on that site over a hundred years ago  The Fort Wallace Museum will be forever indebted to Floris Weiser and his dedication to uncovering the past. 
   Of course, it would not have even been possible for the museum to accept this collection—important though it is—if it were not for the generosity of Joe Smith, a long-time resident of Greeley County.  Smith has generously offered to foot the bill of the construction of the museum addition necessary to house Weiser’s collection.  Just over $80,000 is required to build the addition, with the majority of the work being done by local contractors.  The addition is to be named in honor of Joseph E. and Emily Smith, who were early pioneers of Wallace County.  
   The Fort Wallace Museum is extremely thankful for the generosity of both Joe Smith and Floris Weiser.
(July 2006)

 
 Why a great artist like Jerry Thomas would choose to live in Kansas is a matter of love...not of money or fame, but of the history and stories of the region.  Thomas has spent untold hours painstakingly recreating famous moments from Kansas history and then using his wealth of talent to render those scenes in vivid color and extraordinary detail.  No touch is too small for his paintings as each stalk of native grass seemingly jumps out of the canvas.  And the subjects he depicts surround the time period when Fort Wallace was at its best. 
   The Fort Wallace Museum was recently given the unique opportunity to make and sell prints of two of Thomas’ greatest paintings.
   “Scouting the Trail” depicts two scouts overlooking Major Elliot’s column that is en route to the Medicine Lodge treaties. Thanks to these two scouts, Elliot’s column made it safely to their destination.
   “Get ‘Em Boys” shows Captain Barnitz leading the 7th Cavalry’s charge against Cheyenne warriors. This battle, which took place on June 26, 1867 near Fort Wallace, proved to the U.S. Army that the Indians were capable and imaginative fighters.
   If you would like to order one of these prints, send payment to the Fort Wallace Museum and tell us which of the prints you would like to receive.  Although “Get ‘Em Boys” will be ready for shipment by early August, we project that “Scouting the Trail” will be ready by early fall. Proceeds from “Scouting the Trail” will be split between the Ft. Wallace Museum and the JM and Marilyn Thies Youth Ranch while all proceeds from “Get ‘Em Boys” will directly benefit the museum.
  For more information, contact the museum using the informationa t the bottom of this page.

"Get 'Em Boys" Image Dimensions: 22" x 12" Outside Dimensions: 26" x 16" Artist Print: $75.00 Artist Proof with Remarque: $125.00	"Scouting the Trail" Image Dimensions: 36" x 11.5" Outside Dimensions: 38.5" x 15" Artist Print: $125.00 Artist Proof with Remarque: $175.00

(July 2006)