Fick Fossil and History Museum
- Admission
- Free (donations appreciated)
- Hours
- Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Closed Sunday
- Duration
- 1-2 hours
- Parking
- Free parking lot on-site
- Access
- Wheelchair accessible entrance and single-level exhibit spaces
Explore an eclectic mix of prehistoric shark teeth, dinosaur fossils, and local history. The museum's true highlight is its quirky folk art creations made from thousands of fossils and shells. It's a delightfully strange stop along the Kansas prairie.
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Founded by Ernest and Vi Fick, the Fick Fossil and History Museum showcases an incredible array of fossils from the prehistoric Western Interior Seaway that once covered Kansas. The collection began as a personal hobby before growing into a beloved community institution in Oakley.
Visitors will find over 11,000 fossilized shark teeth, massive prehistoric fish, and unique folk art creations decorated with shells and stones. The museum also preserves local pioneer history, featuring sod house replicas, antique tools, and historic photographs from the plains era.
What truly sets this museum apart is its charming, eclectic presentation of history alongside paleontology. It perfectly captures the spirit of classic roadside Americana while offering genuine scientific and historical value.
Ratings
museumVisitor Tips
- ◆ Admission is free, though donations are highly appreciated to help preserve the collection.
- ◆ Take time to closely inspect the oil paintings by Vi Fick, which incorporate real fossils into the artwork.
- ◆ Combine your visit with a trip to nearby Monument Rocks, the geological source of many fossils in the area.
Heads Up
- ◆ The museum has limited operating hours on weekends, so be sure to verify their current schedule before driving out.
Common questions
How long does it take to tour the Fick Fossil and History Museum?
A typical self-guided tour of the museum takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. This allows enough time to view both the paleontology exhibits and the local pioneer history displays.
Are the fossils on display from the local Oakley area?
Yes, most of the fossils, including the extensive collection of shark teeth and a plesiosaur fossil, were found locally in the Niobrara Chalk formations of Logan County.
What are the folk art pictures made of at the Fick Fossil Museum?
The artwork created by co-founder Vi Fick consists of three-dimensional mosaics made from thousands of fossilized shark teeth, shells, and local minerals.