LARNED  — Like all other businesses and museums, the Santa Fe Trail Center has been closed since the shelter in place orders were given during the COVID-19 pandemic. The center is now finally open to the public, and on Thursday, May 28, Kathleen Foster, a volunteer at the center, held a story time, hosted by Little Wally, for a small group of children of various ages. 

After a short introduction to the lifestyle along the trail, the children settled in to learn about the native animals that lived along the trail and how to identify them by their tracks as Foster read the book, “Big Tracks, Little Tracks.”

After story time, the children moved outside to make necklaces out of colorful pasta, to attempt to learn the game of “jacks,” and to enjoy molasses cookies before they headed to the swings and the merry go round on the grounds for a little playtime. 

A reenactment of what it was like to go to school along the trail is being planned as their next educational activity for the middle of June. The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum is located 2 miles west of Larned on K-156 and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.