The Dalton Gang Hideout

The Dalton Gang Hideout in Meade, KS isn't too far from us. DR and the boys had actually visited it a couple times but this week was the first time Yahoo and I were able to visit. The Dalton Gang were three brothers who were bank/train robbers during the 1890's. Their sister Eva lived in Meade with her husband in the little white house that you see above. Eva and her husband were not too popular in the community being they were related to the Daltons and quietly left the community and years later the 95 foot tunnel leading from the house to the barn down the hill was discovered. 

The tunnel was refurnished from the dirt and timber construction to its current stone walls by the WPA in the 1940's. 

The barn currently acts as the museum/tunnel entrance. You enter the tunnel in the barn and exit into the white house behind the barn. The house is two stories, partially built into a hill and rather small. 

This photo was all over the place at the museum, the most famous photo of the gang after the fatal Coffeyville Bank Robbery. 

On October 5, 1892, the Dalton gang attempted this feat when they set out to rob the C.M. Condon & Company's Bank and the First National Bank in Coffeyville, Kansas. Since the locals were aware of what they looked like, they wore fake beards. But they were still identified by one of the townspeople.

While the gang was busy trying to hold up the banks, the people armed themselves and prepared for a gun battle. When the gang exited the banks, a shootout began. There were three townspeople shot, and Town Marshal Charles Connelly^[3] was killed when he ran into the street after hearing gunfire, returning fire before he died killing one member of the gang. Grat Dalton, Bob Dalton, Dick Broadwell and Bill Power were killed. Emmett Daltonreceived 23 gunshot wounds and survived. He was given a life sentence in the Kansas penitentiary in Lansing, Kansas, of which he served 14 years before being pardoned. (Wikipedia)

The house is furnished the way it would have been in the 1890's with many of Eva Dalton's own possessions. 

Once we were done in the house (I could have stayed all day reading but the kids were quickly bored ) we headed back to the local history museum in the barn. 

The most interesting attraction was the two headed calf! Very cool! 

There were also stuffed rattlesnakes, golden eagle, beaver as well as an albino prairie dog and albino raccoon!

And of course the required barb wire collection. I've said before, practically every town of any size has some sort of local history museum and almost every one of them contains a barbed wire collection! 

Outside is an old time town...fronts only. Every summer there are Western reenactors who have gunfights and a living history competition down in the old town. Hopefully we'll get to check it out this July. 

Ha, I thought this was one of the funnier episodes of our day. Yip stood in the coffin, eyes closed for the full effect....

...and Yahoo had to do the same thing! Whatever brother does she'll do too...even if she doesn't understand it :) 

I love my history!