Fick Fossil and History Museum and Memorial Gardens

Location: 4 Blocks East of US-83 on 2nd Street, 1 Block North

Intrinsic Qualities:

Site Logistics:

• The City owned building is shared with the City of Oakley Public Library.
• Parking located in front of the building.
• Handicap accessible.
• Bertrand Park located behind the building, featuring Memorial Gardens and walking trails.
• Restroom available

The Fick Fossil and History Museum was developed after a most unusual collection of shark teeth, fossils, woodcarvings, and artwork were given to the City of Oakley by Ernest and Vi Fick in 1972. The City of Oakley agreed to house this collection in a permanent home in 1973. Exhibits detailing the history of the Smoky Hill Trail, later known as the Monument Trail, Monument Station relics, a replica of the Kansas Pacific depot of Oakley (which was destroyed by fire in 1940) and other exhibits illustrating the importance of the railroad in settling this area are located within the Museum. Antiques are displayed in an unusual manner, a military exhibit, and other display‘s relating to the history of the county and Western Kansas makes for a unique, as well as an educational, museum visit.

Memorial Gardens: In May 2004, when the “Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall” was in Oakley, 4 members of “the Wall” committee discussed how to keep the spirit of “Americanism” in Oakley continuing after the exhibit’s stay. In June of that year, a committee was formed and they agreed to do something special. The conceived idea was to honor more than just veterans who had given their lives for our country but to honor anyone from Logan County that had served in the military.

The pillars listing the names of service personnel were to appear on native limestone. The river rocks were to look like those from rivers in Logan County, and the area was to be landscaped with native plants and grasses. It was also decided to honor the well respected State Representative Stan Clark, who had recently died in a car accident during a dust storm in 2005.

Dedicated in May 2005, the Memorial Gardens have sidewalks throughout the display, well-placed benches, flags representing all branches of United State military service, and the names of over 600 people, with Logan County ties, who served in the armed forces.

The 1956 Fire Engine was added to the Fick Fossil and History Museum’s Permanent Collection in June 2014. The Fire Engine was bought brand new in 1955 by the City of Oakley for approximately $12,000. It was “in-service” until 2012, at which time it was stored until the renovations of the Fick Museum could be completed. After 58 years, the fire engine only has 8,216 miles! The local firefighters estimate that only half of those miles are actually “miles”, as the odometer runs while water was being pumped from the truck.