about_museum.htm

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Photo Credit: Rob Morgan, Chanute Tribune & Safari Photo Club Mentor

...The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum is located in Osa's hometown of Chanute, Kansas...Formed in 1961 to preserve the Johnsons' achievements and to encourage further research into their fields of study, the Safari Museum^Ž (as it was originally named) has grown and flourished...The museum started with a core collection of the Johnsons' films, photographs, manuscripts, articles, books, and personal belongings donated by Osa's mother.

...Over the years a number of related collections have developed to broaden the museum's ability to achieve its mission to "collect, preserve, and make available the life work of Martin and Osa Johnson, while continuing their work of sharing the knowledge of natural history and cultural anthropology with the global community."

In 1974 an African ethnographic collection was established by Johnson scholar Dr. Pascal J. Imperato...It includes masks, headdresses, furnishings, personal accessories, tools, armaments, textiles, and musical instruments representing different ethnic groups in west and central Africa.

In 1980 the museum's library was formed which now includes over 10,000 volumes covering a variety of natural history and cultural subjects...Named the Explorers Library in honor of the late Kenhelm W. Stott, Jr., a friend of Osa Johnson and General Curator Emeritus of the San Diego Zoo.

Formed in 1981, the Selsor Art Gallery encompasses a wide range of artistic forms featuring natural subjects.

...The museum is the main center for the collection and distribution of information concerning the lives and accomplishments of Martin and Osa Johnson...Access to Johnson materials and the various collections as well as the museum's Henshall Archives can be granted to researchers.

...In 1993 the museum relocated to Chanute's beautifully renovated Santa Fe train depot as part of a $2 million project...Visitors will find carefully planned exhibits, a range of education programs for children and adults, and a helpful staff of professional employees and volunteers.

Photo Credit: Dr. Peter L. Cagle D.C., museum visitor from North Carolina

...The entrance to the Museum's 30 seat Snark Theater, named after the three travelogue theaters Martin opened after he returned to Southeast Kansas, is just left of the Snark sign...In this theater visitors can watch a wide selection of the Johnsons' documentary films; and programs about Martin and Osa produced all over the world...

Photo Credit: Rob Morgan, Chanute Tribune & Safari Photo Club Mentor

...There are two main galleries, one presenting the Johnsons' story and another of African ethnographic exhibits...Additionally, a smaller temporary display space features traveling and changing exhibits.

...The museum includes a shop offering Johnson books and video copies of their movies...The Museum Shop also carries a selection of ethnic items from Africa and other parts of the world.

...The museum has garnered state and national awards and has been named the No. 1 Museum in Kansas.

Museum Hours

The museum's exhibit areas are open to the public 7 days a week as follows:

Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and 1 pm to 5 pm Sundays.

The museum closes early on New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve, and is closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

General Information

Admission: Adults $6; Seniors & Students aged 13 to College $4;
Students aged 6-12 $3; and Children under age 6 free with an adult.

Accessibility: The Museum is accessible to people with disabilities.

For Museum Tour Reservations, please contact the museum at :
620-431-2730
osajohns@safarimuseum.com

Eating Arrangements: For the safety of its holdings, no food may be brought into the Museum...Picnicking may be done in a neighboring park...Several parks in the area can accommodate large tour groups. For information on PARK availability, please contact the Chanute Parks and Recreation Department at (620) 431-4199...
Also, a list of area restaurants is available from the Museum.

Discounts for Pre-Arranged Tours: Students aged Pre-school to College $1, Adults $3

Any more Museum related information questions? Please call:
620-431-2730
osajohns@safarimuseum.com

Location

The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum is located in downtown Chanute, a town of nearly 10,000 people and the hub of southeast Kansas...We are within easy driving distance of Kansas City, Wichita, Tulsa, and Joplin, MO..

Click here for a list of nearby lodging.

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Regional Map.. Area Map.. Local Map

Tours

Tours of the Museum are conducted by our professional staff upon request during the Museums business hours as follows: Tuesday-Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and other times by appointment...The museum consists of four main touring areas including the Johnson Exhibition and the Selsor Gallery on the second floor and the Imperato African Gallery and the 30-seat Snark Theater on the first floor.

Photo Policy

Visitors are encouraged to take photographs and make video recordings in the museum for their personal use...Publication, broadcast or other distribution or commercial use is prohibited without the express written permission of the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum.

Vision Statement

"To cultivate a spirit of adventure and exploration through the preservation and presentation of Martin and Osa Johnsons life work."

The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum, a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to fulfilling its mission and vision by maintaining the highest national and professional standards while achieving these purposes:

- Education -

The use of the collections for educational and interpretive purposes is a primary focus of this institution...The Safari Museum^Ž recognizes that different people learn in different ways and our exhibit and educational programs reflect this knowledge...These programs are designed to respect multiple viewpoints as they provide a global perspective and understanding of the natural world...As educational resources are made available through the use of our collections, we insure that this knowledge is interpreted for diverse audiences through exhibits, education outreach, print media, and public service...These programs are designed with quality education and entertainment intertwined to match the tradition of inspirational spirit and world class adventure set by Martin and Osa Johnson.

- Collection -

The primary holdings include the Johnson collection which consists of an incomparable record of world cultures, wildlife, and global regions captured by the Johnsons on pioneering film footage and in original photographs...Additionally, this collection contains personal, professional and archival materials produced by or concerning the Johnsons...Significant, related collections include: ethnographic artifacts from the global areas of Africa, Borneo, the South Seas Islands, India, and Asia; a 10,000 volume natural history and exploration research library; and a fine arts collection that consists of an amazing assortment of paintings, lithographs, and sculptures... The Museum's central responsibility is to preserve these collections which together constitute a permanent record of past global diversity so that this knowledge and these resources will remain available to current and future generations.

- Service -

Through scholarly publications, film and photograph licensing, artifact studies, exhibit loans, and professional expertise, the Safari Museum^Ž disseminates its resources worldwide...To the local and surrounding communities, the museum provides on-site tours, professional lecture and artifact programs, and a variety of outreach services...Due to its unique nature and geographic location, the Safari Museum^Ž acts as diverse resource for a multi-culturally underserved population.

- Exhibition -

The use of the collections for educational and interpretive purposes is a primary focus of this institution...The Safari Museum^Ž recognizes that different people learn in different ways and our exhibit and educational programs reflect this knowledge...These programs are designed to respect multiple viewpoints as they provide a global perspective and understanding of the natural world...As educational resources are made available through the use of our collections, we insure that this knowledge is interpreted for diverse audiences through exhibits, education outreach, print media, and public service...These programs are designed with quality education and entertainment intertwined to match the tradition of inspirational spirit and world class adventure set by Martin and Osa Johnson.

- Research -

The museum, by making available its multi-faceted resources, assisting researchers, preserving its collections with supporting archives, and by maintaining the extensive Stott Explorers Library, continues to foster scholarly activities and publications...Topics of research are highly diverse: exploration, literary figures, natural history, aviation, world geography, world transportation trends, pioneer cinematography, wildlife conservation, and comparative anthropology...The Stott Explorers Library is the center for on-site research activities, and its holdings grow with, and enhance, the museum's permanent collections.

Board of Trustees

Bob Haskins, President

Tara Cunningham, Vice President

Troy Edens, Treasurer

Kim Rutter, Secretary

Ross Abbuehl

Chris Conklin

Tim Cunningham

Muffy Fehr

Jo Hardy

Michelle Johnson

Cathy Matney

Shannon Uhrmacher

Honorary Trustees

Jack Badal

Robert Ballard

Kevin Brownlow

Gary K. Clarke

Clive Cussler

Dick Douglas

Nancy Durbin

Jack Hanna

Joyce Harrell

Dick Houston

Pascal & Eleanor Imperato

Schuyler Jones

Nancy Kassebaum Baker

Kenneth Love

Margaret Moore

Mike Resnick

George & Kay Schaller

Igor Sikorsky, Jr.

Stan Walsh

Holly Wofford

Honorary Trustees in Memoriam

Vern Carstens

Clarke Getts

Byron Harrell

Belle Leighty

David Martin

Douglas Oliver

C. Jackson Selsor

Kenhelm Stott, Jr.

Lowell Thomas

Joseph Tilton

George & Helen Wauchope

Junior Board of Trustees

Elizabeth Fehr

Zack Gericke

Miranda Myer

Clayton Naff

Stephanie Powers

Anrenee Reasor

Museum Staff

Ruth Babb, Docent

Ben Barber, Library/Archive Volunteer

Jacquelyn Borgeson, Curator

Caitlin Brown, Docent

Alexis Ethridge, Office Assistant

Conrad Froehlich, Director

Tracey Harshbarger, Volunteer Editor

Aladeen Klonowski, Docent

Jane Martin, Volunteer Librarian

Larry & Laurel McVey, Volunteer Greeters

R. Kent Pringle, Legal Counsel

Shirley Rogers-Naff, Store Manager/Assistant Treasurer

Sandy Thompson, Office Assistant

Molly Winder, Clothing & Textile Conservator