By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com

There are four museums in Pratt. Maybe that is a ho-hum statement for some, but for those who are not aware, each one of the four Pratt museums represents multiple opportunities for fun and learning in their own way. Last Friday, representatives from the Pratt Education Center and Museum, the B-29 Bombers on the Prairie Museum, the Pratt County Historical Museum, and the Vernon Filley Art Museum joined forces to share their event schedules and tell what they have to offer the public during a Lunch and Learn session at the Filley in Pratt. There was no room for ho-hum in any of the presentations, and general consensus was that Pratt is incredibly blessed to have these opportunities available to public regularly.

Pratt Education Center and Museum

Mackenzie Reh, Director of the Pratt Education Center at Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks east of Pratt said her motto for this summer was “fun for all ages.” Tours of indoor and outdoor animal habitats, ponds, pollinator gardens, as well as a Kansas Wildlife Treasury Exchange shelf are regular features of free experiences available at her location, 531 SE 25th Ave, Pratt. Reh said nature packs with books and indoor/outdoor related activities and equipment are available for checkout, and hatchery or museum tours are always available at the museum.

With more than 100 animals and fish to care for in the museum itself, Reh is assisted by two part-time employees who help with animal care as well as field trips and fishing clinics for kids.

“We provide all the tackle, fishing poles, bait for kids under the age of 15,” Reh said. “I even put the worms on the hooks and take off the fish, if needed. Any size group is welcome to come out for a fishing clinic, just call ahead to schedule at time.”

The PEC is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with potential Saturday reservations. Admission is always free.

B-29 Bombers on the Prairie

Shannon Bergner, representing the B-29 Museum, told the Friday Lunch and Learn crowd that she has become involved with the museum located just north off Pratt because an increased awareness of how important it is to learn from history and remember a time period in Pratt’s history when more than 6,000 people lived at the Pratt Air Force Base.

“When we are connected to our history, we all find a piece of ourselves in that knowledge,” she said. “This museum here in Pratt is the only one of 16 B-29 divisions that is dedication to the history of that time period where they were training bomber pilots in WWII.”<n>An upgraded sound system, new donations, virtual tours, a 30-chair theater, and a constant attention to presentation of historic details and data keep the museum an interesting place to spend time learning about and appreciating military service, especially those with Pratt connections.

The B-29 Museum is open on Sundays from 2-4 p.m., and by appointment at any time during the week by calling 620-770-2392.

Bergner said that a Second Annual 5K run would take place June 7 this year at the museum grounds, with an added one mile walk on the paved historical trail which has multiple information boards along with the way. Historic data vaults can be scene as well as the Victory Gardens and flights relic from past wars. Carports and picnic tables have been added on the air base grounds, and Bergner said a Top Gun photo booth would be on site for this year’s June 7 event and she is planning a missing man ceremony.

Pratt County Historical Museum

Representing the Pratt County Historical Museum, director Charmaine Swanepoel said that a few people from Byers, Coats, Iuka, and Pratt came together in the 1960s to create a Pratt County museum.

“They formed a society in 1967 and wanted to build a new building but the cost was too high,” Swanepoel said.

It wasn’t until Blanche Taylor donated some property to the society, which they then sold, that a former Independent Lumber Yard facility was purchased and remodeled for use by the Pratt County Historical Museum Society. They officially opened the doors of the historical museum in 1984 with more than 700 people attending the grand opening at 208 S. Ninnescah, Pratt.

“We have a really active board of 11 members who really run things here,” Swanepoel said. “There is always something to do, improvements to make, collections to rotate, information to scan. There is 24,000 square feet and we make use of every inch.”

Swanepoel said a team of 22 docents helps out with tours and field trips and there are many, many people to thank for donations and contributions to the museum. Popular exhibits include to real life sod house, the court chambers, the chapel (which is used even today to host wedding ceremonies, bridal and baby showers, and birthday parties. The Main Street boardwalk was part of the early society club’s vision for the museum and remains a favorite for school children and others who visit during special exhibits like Kansas Day or the Christmas Festival when as many as 47 Christmas trees are decorated and placed throughout the museum.

Special collections at the historical museum include a Miss Kansas upper floor which holds dresses, shoes, show books and many other donated props and memories from years of the event in Pratt; the Hartman Collection is also one of the finest in Kansas of Native American art, tools, and artifacts.

The Vernon Filley Art Museum

Martha Cortes and Brittany Novotny shared some of the recent and coming events at the Vernon Filley Art Museum, highlighting that this is the 10th year anniversay of the museum’s establishment in Pratt.

Three employees and a 15-member board, plus numerous volunteers help coordinate 10 exhibits per year in three different galleries, Lunch and Learn series, art classes, the Filley Fest in September, Christmas music at the museum, and Second Saturday Family Art Days throughout the year. The Filley is also part of the May Fest, which takes place at the Bixler Art Barn south of Pratt each year, as well as the Santa Connections at that same location.

“There is no limit to the arts and what we do here,” said Novotny. “What we see, what we feel, what we experience, all of that is art, and worth sharing with others.”

Novotny said the Filley is kid-friendly and no one worries about things being broken if touched.

“We love hosting the school tours and kid’s groups here,” she said. “We welcome anyone to come shop at our gift shop. We just have some amazing things there for all ages.”

Novotny said the museum is available for private rentals and schedules about 10 per year. There are an average of 8,000 visitors to the Jackson Street campus each year.