| AMERICAN FOLK HEROES |
Now you have a chance to win this popular series, which we gathered together through donations, by purchasing a $10.00 ticket in our 2025 Christmas raffle. Sorry, according to non-profit rules, tickets must be purchased in person at the museum. Winning ticket will be chosen December 21, 2025.
The
stories we hear of John Chapman (1774 –1845), often called Johnny Appleseed,
tell of a pioneer man spreading apple seeds randomly everywhere he went, but
instead he was an American nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large
parts of Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia.
He would plant nurseries, fencing them to protect the trees from livestock
and wild animals, and come back each year to check on them..
William
Frederick Cody (1846-1917), known as Buffalo Bill, was one of the west’s
most colorful figures. He became a rider for the Pony Express at age 14,
also was a wagon train driver, buffalo hunter, and fur trapper. During the
Civil War, he served for the Union and later served as a civilian scout to
the US Army during the Indian Wars. He started performing in shows that
displayed western themes, and later founded his own show, Buffalo Bill's
Wild West and took the large company on tours throughout the United States
and also in Great Britain and Europe.
Although
David “Davy” Crockett (1786-1836) was famed as a frontiersman, he also was a
soldier, statesman, congressman and defender of the rights of the Indians.
After leaving congress, he moved to Texas and took part in the Texas
Revolution. He was killed at the Battle of the Alamo. After his death he was
portrayed in television and movies as a larger-than-life folk hero with acts
of mythical proportions. He was known as “King of the Wild Frontier” and
every little boy wore a Davy Crockett coonskin cap!
Paul
Bunyan is a fictional character originating with American loggers, and made
popular by freelance writer William Laughead. Tall tales of the superhuman
strength of Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox have been enjoyed by Americans
for generations. My favorite goes like this: “Well now, one winter it was so
cold that all the geese flew backward and all the fish moved south and even
the snow turned blue. Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words
froze solid afore they could be heard. People had to wait until sunup to
find out what folks were talking about the night before.”
Wyatt
Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American Old
West figure who lived a restless life. He spent his early life in Iowa, but
moved often following the various gold rushes. During his lifetime, he was a
deputy sheriff, buffalo hunter, gambler, boxing referee, saloon bouncer, and
brothel keeper but he is best known as the deputy town marshal in Tombstone,
Arizona Territory who took part in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during
which lawmen killed three outlaw Cowboys. 
Sacajawea
is depicted as guiding the Lewis and Clark expedition to the northwest to
find a practical route to the Pacific Ocean. However, she only provided
direction in a few instances. Her greatest value was simply her presence
during the arduous journey. Since no war party ever included a woman with a
baby, the group showed friendly and peaceful intentions. Sacajawea was born
in the Shoshone tribe in Idaho, but was captured by the Hidatsa and taken to
North Dakota. Later she was purchased as a wife by Charbonneau, a fur trader
from Quebec, who was hired as interpreter for the expedition. 
John
Henry "Doc" Holliday (1851-1887) was a good friend of Wyatt Earp, and most
known for his role as a temporary deputy marshal in the “Gunfight at the
O.K. Corral”. Holliday had a degree in dentistry and opened a practice in
Atlanta, Georgia. However, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and moved to
the dry arid Southwest for his health. Doc became a gambler and had the
reputation of a deadly gunman. He joined the Earps in Arizona and was
deputized by Tombstone city marshal Virgil Earp, brother of Wyatt, who was
also deputized. The lawmen attempted to disarm a group of Cowboys, which
caused the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Monday - Saturday 11-5pm
Sunday - 11-4:30pm
We suggest visitors arrive at least 30 minutes before closing.
"To foster and encourage the interest of the general public of the importance of nuts in the diets of humans throughout history and in the evolution of the nutcracker. No other tool or collectible has shown such a wide diversity of material and design as the implements used to crack the hard shell of a nut".
Nutcracker
Museum