Wizard Of Oz Museum

Lions And Tigers And Bears, Oh My!

Okay, so the classic tale The Wizard of Oz never really tells us exactly where in Kansas the story’s teenage heroine Dorothy was from. Who cares? The nice folks in Liberal have adopted Dorothy, Toto, and her Munchkin pals and given them a home at the Dorothy’s House Museum, which isn’t about to blow away in the next big storm that comes along!

We all remember The Wizard of Oz. It’s your typical American story of youth gone bad and making good - unhappy girl runs away from home in the middle of a tornado, house and all. She crash lands on top of the local bad witch, incurring the wrath of local bad witch number 2 and the friendship of local good witch. She swipes a pair of ruby slippers and goes on the lam with her dog, meets a guy dressed as a scarecrow, another guy stuck in a tin suit, and yet another guy, this one suffering from an identity crisis, who thinks he’s a lion. Girl sets her goal - to make it big in the Emerald City, which is the Oz version of Hollywood. Girl follows her dream, and finally realizes that the dream isn’t all that great after all. She sees the error of her ways and just wants to go home. Throw in a bit of revenge, the usual flying moneys and groping trees for drama, and an exciting climax and there you have it, The Wizard of Oz.

Now, Dorothy may have wanted to escape Kansas, but the folks around Liberal are very content with their little city, thank you very much, and never miss an opportunity to have some fun while promoting their hometown. The story goes that a Liberal businessman was at a convention and mentioned that he was from Kansas, and his waitress replied, "Isn’t that where Dorothy and Toto are from?" Said businessman went home, told his friends about the encounter, and the idea was hatched to build a museum.

Today the Dorothy’s House Museum is a fascinating 5,000 square foot display where tour guides lead you in Dorothy’s footsteps down the Yellow Brick Road, pointing out displays and giving you a brief outline of the story’s plot as you go. The displays are magnificent. Dorothy’s farmhouse is here, along with the mean old neighbor woman riding on her bike, with Toto stashed in a basket. Dozens of Munchkins line the path, and Glenda, the Good Witch, is on hand to assure you everything will turn out all right. The life size Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion are exact replicas of those from the movie, so real-looking you expect them to jump down out of their display and follow right along as you continue on your journey.

Kids of all ages will love this magical place, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself humming "We’re off to see the Wizard." as you stroll along. It would be impossible not to have a good time here as you see the animated displays, marvel at the attention to detail, and take in the total Oz experience.

Liberal’s Land of Oz grew out of a little girl’s dream. As a child living in Topeka, Kansas, Linda Kay Edson believed that the mythical Land of Oz was a real place where she could visit. As an adult, Linda set to work creating her own Land of Oz in 1981. With the help of her parents and husband, and using odds and ends of every description, Linda created an animated Land of Oz at a Topeka shopping mall for Halloween. Scores of children trick or treated down the Yellow Brick Road, and the effort raised much needed funds for an area nursing home.

Over the years Linda and her family moved and rebuilt their Land of Oz several times in different locations as a fund raiser for local charities, but after a decade she began looking for a permanent home. That home was found in Liberal, at Dorothy’s House Museum. It took three semi-trucks to haul the display to Liberal, and Linda and her parents spent the summer of 1992 in Liberal rebuilding the Land of Oz one final time. By the time the project was finished, they had spent six months making everything perfect and ready for visitors.

Liberal has adopted the Land of Oz theme with gusto, even holding an annual OzFest every October, with a parade, scarecrow making contests, games, food and fun. Over the years many of the actors who played Munchkins in the original The Wizard of Oz movie have come to Liberal for the event, greeting the public and taking part in all the activities.

Dorothy’s House Museum is located at 567 E. Cedar Street in Liberal and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. during summer months. Hours are shorter during the winter. There is a nominal admission charge. For more information on Dorothy’s House Museum, call 620-624-7624.