Revitalizing Downtown History
The Downtown Museum offers a fascinating journey through Liberal’s past, with exhibits rotating every six to twelve months to keep things fresh. Our inaugural exhibit features a true blast from the past: Thunderbolt, the mechanical horse!
After more than forty years, Thunderbolt has finally returned home to the Warren Hotel, now the Landmark Center, thanks to Todd Stanton. Many longtime Liberal residents will fondly remember riding Thunderbolt in their youth when a ride cost just ten cents. Though still fully operational, this beloved piece of our history is now retired from giving rides, standing proudly as a testament to bygone days.
Come and experience a piece of Liberal’s cherished downtown history!
Discover More Downtown History at the Downtown Museum!
Beyond the beloved Thunderbolt, our changing exhibits at the Downtown Museum (located in the Landmark Center) feature a treasure trove of Liberal’s unique past!
Step back to 1947 and see original American and Mexican window cards for “Trail Street,” the RKO Pictures movie actually set in Liberal, Kansas! Relive the excitement of its world premiere right here in town, complete with Hollywood stars, a spectacular multi-state parade, and Liberal’s biggest-ever BBQ.
You’ll also find a fascinating collection of local gems, including:
- A vintage Buster Brown comic book from Brown’s shoe store.
- A bottle of Liberal’s very own “Liberal-Hi” soda pop.
- Intriguing artifacts from Liberal’s original banks.
- Items from the historic John Baughman real estate and land office, once housed in the Warren Hotel.
Don’t miss a truly unusual piece of local governance: Seward County’s original county seal! Loaned by Clerk of District Court Donna Odneal, this five-pound, hand-operated cast iron seal undoubtedly journeyed by wagon as the county seat moved through Fargo Springs, Springfield, and eventually settled in downtown Liberal.
This captivating museum space is generously donated by Landmark Center owner Todd Stanton. All exhibits, curated from the collections of Lidia Gray, Todd Stanton, the Seward County Historical Society, and other generous contributors, are privately funded with no admission fee or donation expected. It’s a proud extension of the Liberal Downtown Association’s vision for revitalizing our downtown.
The Downtown Museum is open to the public during regular Monday-Friday business hours. While you’re here, be sure to also enjoy the enduring photo exhibitions of early Liberal and Seward County, which remain on permanent display throughout the Landmark Center. Come explore your history!
