Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Traveling the path to Oz
Elizabeth Harashe
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People from as far as New Mexico, Colorado, Georgia and New York travel to find out what is behind Auntie Em's door. As the door knob to the farm house is turned, peering out through the doorway is Dorothy and Toto standing on the Yellow Brick Road. Looking around, it looks like the house just landed on the wicked witch with her red ruby slippers glimmering.
The Wizard of Oz museum in Wamego, Kan. Lets visitors travel through the Land of Oz just as Dorothy and Toto did while meeting new friends like the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and The Cowardly Lion.
The Oz museum is situated just off I-70 on KS 99, also called the "The Road to Oz". The museum will capture both the young and "young at heart".
"I'm not even a fan of The Wizard of Oz, but the museum was really cool." Visitor Elizabeth Clark said.
Museum-goers travel the yellow brick road to reenact the movie story. Along the way are Oz memorabilia and trivia facts. The collection, owned by Tod Machin, is one of the largest, privately-owned Oz collections. There are over 2,000 items ranging from munchkin clothing to character dolls, books and even flying monkey beer.
The museum began as a collection that was displayed in the Columbian Theatre in 1995, located down the street from the current site of the Oz museum. Within three months, there were over 20,000 guests, ranging from residents of every state to seven countries, to view the collection. The museum is now owned by the Columbian Theatre.
Each year the town of Wamego is transformed into the Land of Oz during the annual OZtoberfest celebration in October. Activities include meeting munchkin and descendants of L. Frank Baum, author of Oz books and getting autographs. Other events include Emerald City carnival rides, craft vendors, a Yellow Brick Road bicycle ride, Wizard of Oz stage productions, movie showings, and much more. For more information about the OZtoberfest visit www.OZtoberfest.com.
There's no place like the Oz museum and no better place to reenact a classic childhood movie.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10a.m.-5p.m. and Sunday Noon-5p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults and $4 for children under 12. The museum gives discounts for AAA and military IDs.
More information? Visit www.ozmusuem.com
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