LARNED — The Santa Fe Trail Center launched into the new year with a variation on a 2006 movie that brought museum exhibits to life after the visitors had gone home.

Saturday’s evening program, “Night at the Museum,” featured “lights-out” guided tours through the galleries, where several key exhibits were brought to life by members of the Western Wranglers and Pawnee Peppers 4-H clubs in Pawnee County. 

SFTC Director Katie Norman said the museum’s board had wrangled with the idea for some time.

“As it turned out, two of our board members are also 4-H club leaders. Their 4-H kids are presenting the program as one of their community service projects.”

As a 4-H project, the cost of admission for the Saturday program was deferred to donations, which were requested at the conclusion of each 30-minute tour. “Their service project is technically a fund-raiser for the Santa Fe Trail Center,” Norman said. “We are hoping that people will see the program with the lights off, then want to come back later for another look in the day time.”

4-H leaders Angie Murray (Pawnee Peppers) and Erin Josifiak (Western Wranglers) noted that about 72 visitors had pre-registered for the nine tours during the evening, but with extra walk-ins the total attendance reached more than 80 for the first-time event. The program’s format provides the opportunity for additions in costuming and story line that makes it a candidate for a repeat later in the year, Norman said.

Planning for 2026

“We are currently working on our event list for the year,” Norman noted. “We do have several things coming up; in January we are doing a ‘Sip ‘N’ Paint’ (featuring local artists) and we will release that date when it becomes official. We will also be having some Kansas Day activities and then moving forward we are planning different events for each quarter of the year.”

Norman also noted the museum will have new exhibit opportunities using grant funds received in 2025.