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The big question is, “Don’t you love the Gunsmoke Trail?” The Trail draws many visitors who tour all four of the Kansas Cities. You can take as much time as you want to visit all four locations. You can even go “off the beaten path” and see other cities mentioned in the TV series. Although the series left network TV fifty years ago, many watch it on cable channels and streaming services. Something is appealing about stories of the American West in the 1800s. Here’s a map obtained from the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Note the driving time vs. the time it took on horseback in the 1880s. Stagecoach travel took about the same time as on horseback, but was costly. To make the time, the stagecoaches changed horses about every two hours. The horses were expected to run for the entire two hours. By the time the railroad came through, passengers traveled by train. By the 1880s, stagecoaches were only used where train tracks didn’t go.
Today, if you just wanted to drive the trail and not see anything (don’t do that!), you could do it in a day! Riding the trail on horseback would take you nine days!
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The Gunsmoke series ran for twenty seasons, from 1955 to 1975. It was the most watched series from 1957 to 1961.
The Gunsmoke Trail was established in 2023 as a visitor destination. Cars and buses are already visiting each of the towns and their attractions. Of course, each city has its unique places to see. Some are part of the Trail, and others are unrelated to Gunsmoke, such as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library in Abilene.
The Gunsmoke Trail Cities
You can “jump in” at any city when taking the Gunsmoke Trail. Here’s a bit about each of them. And here’s the link to the Gunsmoke Trail website.
Abilene
While USA Today’s reader survey recognizes Abilene as a “Best Historic Small Town,” it also houses the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library. The town’s Old West history adds to its allure. The Old Abilene Town shows visitors a view into history. Here’s a link to more about Old Abilene Town. And, here’s a link to more about Abilene from my recent visit.
- In 1880, Abilene’s population was about 15,000 because of the cattle trade and the railroad’s presence.
- The population decreased as railroads were built in Texas to reduce the cattle drives and bring supplies and people into the state. By 1910, the population had fallen to nearly 4,000. Since then, it has risen slowly to about 6,500.
- Here’s a link to more about Abilene.
Wichita
Wichita is now Kansas’s largest city, but it was just another prairie/Old West town back then. There are many attractions related to the Gunsmoke Trail and other historical attractions. For example, the Old Cowtown Museum is an outdoor living history museum featuring more than 50 historic buildings and the Chisholm Trail, representing areas where the cattle-drive trail passed through Wichita.
Want to see a shop for my road trip photos? You can have them printed as wall art or puzzles. They also work on coffee mugs, t-shirts and more! So, take a look. Maybe you'll see something you will like!
- In 1880, the population stood at just under 5,000.
- Today, Wichita is the largest city in Kansas, with a city population of nearly 400,000 and a metro population of about 650,000.
- The city is a major center for aerospace manufacturing. It is the Air Capital of the World! It’s a hub for general, commercial, space, and defense aviation.
- Wichita State University has a student population of nearly 24,000. It is also the No. 1 university in the US for aerospace engineering expenditures!
- A post about the Gunsmoke Trail attractions in Wichita is coming soon.
Dodge City
Of course, the actual setting for the Gunsmoke series is here! And, the town plays it up, big time! You’ll see statues of the old west historical figures. And many places are called Wyatt Earp this and Wyatt Earp that. Oh, and take a trip west of town, and you’ll smell the remaining industry from the Old West. Feed lots for lots of cattle!
- In 1880, the population hovered around 1,000.
- Today, it’s nearly 30,000.
- Although tourism remains a draw for the city, its industries are agriculture, energy, and manufacturing.
- Dodge City has a community college with about 1,000 students.
- A post about the Gunsmoke Trail attractions in Dodge City is coming soon.
Hays
Hays (initially Hays City) started with civilian support for Fort Hays, established primarily during the “Indian Wars” as people began moving west to go beyond here to the West Coast or settle here and raise cattle or farm the land. Several notable figures of the Old West lived in Hays during this time: George Armstrong Custer, Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Wild Bill Hickok.
- In 1880, Hays City had about 850 people. It was then known as Hays City, which was shortened to Hays in 1895. The current population is about 21,000.
- The town is named after nearby Fort Hays, which operated from 1865 to 1889 and reopened in 1929 as Fort Hays State Historic Site.
- Hays is the home of Fort Hays State University, with a student population of about 14,000.
- A post about the Gunsmoke Trail attractions in Hays is coming soon. (I have not visited Hays yet, but have seen the attractions in the other three cities.)
Don’t you love the Gunsmoke Trail Summary?
Of course, each city has other attractions to visit. Soon, you’ll see the links to the Gunsmoke Trail attractions of each town. Here’s a link to a work-in-progress on road tripping in Kansas. It will continue to be a work-in-progress as I’m continually looking for more places to visit! So, next time….
The series mentions about twenty more places. They are mostly small towns, but a few are historic forts. The towns/forts include Hutchinson, Garden City, Olathe, and Salina. Olathe is the largest at nearly 150,000. It’s a Kansas City suburb. Hutchinson has a population of about 40,000. Salina has about 47,000, and Garden City has almost 30,000, similar to Dodge City.
So… Pack your bags and prepare for a trip back to the 1880s! Prepare to love the gunsmoke trail!
Classic Rock Recollection
“Desparado” by Eagles
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
You’ve been out ridin’ fences for so long now
Oh, you’re a hard one, but I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin’ you can hurt you somehow
Written by: Glen Frey and Don Henley
#thedrivebytourist
