Dalton Defenders Museum

08/04/2026

EXTENDED UNTIL AUGUST 8th!

Want to know more about FREE ADMISSION to the BROWN MANSION and DALTON DEFENDERS MUSEUM? Kansas Families - looking for something to do this summer?

Check out the list of attractions in the Sunflower Summer app! Choose something local or make a short road trip, the choice is yours. Either way, it's sure to be an unforgettable adventure for KANSAS families. '

GET STARTED WITH 3 EASY STEPS
1. Download the Sunflower Summer App at sunflowersummer.org
2. Create an account.
3. Choose your favorite attractions to visit.

PLEASE REMEMBER...
1. For Kansas Families Only!
2. All Kansas resident STUDENTS (including public, private, and homeschooled students), Pre-K through 12th grade are included in the program.
3. One adult may accompany students and receive access to a free ticket voucher. Any other adults present will have to pay out of pocket for admission.
4. Free entry to 200+ attractions across the state of Kansas.
5. Only from July 9 to August 2, 2026

07/09/2026

Looking for something fun and FREE to do today with your kids? If you are a KANSAS resident you can visit the Dalton Defenders Musuem and the Brown Mansion for FREE with your kiddos!

See below for more information!

Want to know more about FREE ADMISSION to the BROWN MANSION and DALTON DEFENDERS MUSEUM? Kansas Families - looking for something to do this summer?

Check out the list of attractions in the Sunflower Summer app! Choose something local or make a short road trip, the choice is yours. Either way, it's sure to be an unforgettable adventure for KANSAS families. '

GET STARTED WITH 3 EASY STEPS
1. Download the Sunflower Summer App at sunflowersummer.org
2. Create an account.
3. Choose your favorite attractions to visit.

PLEASE REMEMBER...
1. For Kansas Families Only!
2. All Kansas resident STUDENTS (including public, private, and homeschooled students), Pre-K through 12th grade are included in the program.
3. One adult may accompany students and receive access to a free ticket voucher. Any other adults present will have to pay out of pocket for admission.
4. Free entry to 200+ attractions across the state of Kansas.
5. Only from July 9 to August 2, 2026

07/07/2026

Want to know more about FREE ADMISSION to the BROWN MANSION and DALTON DEFENDERS MUSEUM? Kansas Families - looking for something to do this summer?

Check out the list of attractions in the Sunflower Summer app! Choose something local or make a short road trip, the choice is yours. Either way, it's sure to be an unforgettable adventure for KANSAS families. '

GET STARTED WITH 3 EASY STEPS
1. Download the Sunflower Summer App at sunflowersummer.org
2. Create an account.
3. Choose your favorite attractions to visit.

PLEASE REMEMBER...
1. For Kansas Families Only!
2. All Kansas resident STUDENTS (including public, private, and homeschooled students), Pre-K through 12th grade are included in the program.
3. One adult may accompany students and receive access to a free ticket voucher. Any other adults present will have to pay out of pocket for admission.
4. Free entry to 200+ attractions across the state of Kansas.
5. Only from July 9 to August 2, 2026

07/04/2026

Celebrate the 4th of July at the DALTON DEFENDERS MUSUEM! We are open from 11 am to 3 pm today!

WE WILL BE OPEN on SATURDAY, JULY 4 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Coffeyville, the Dalton Defenders Museum sits just steps from Death Alley and the original Condon Bank building.

For more information visit www.coffeyvillehistory.com

ADMISSION:
Adults: $8
Seniors (65+): $7
Kids with an an Adult Admission:
* Age 6-17: $5
* Age 0-6: Free

07/04/2026

HISTORY MYSTERY REVEALED | 07.4.2026

Thank you to everyone who joined in with your guesses! We loved reading all of your answers.

The correct answer is...

B. A counterweight used for weighing commodities ( A Steelyard Balance Scale)

This antique hanging scale was used to weigh items by placing the object on one hook while sliding the counterweight along the long arm until it balanced. Before modern digital and spring scales, this was a common way to weigh everything from produce and grain to supplies and other household goods.

It's just one of the many fascinating artifacts that help tell the story of life in and around the Coffeyville. Everyday tools like this remind us how people worked, traded, and lived more than a century ago.

Did you guess correctly? Stay tuned for another History Mystery soon—you never know what hidden piece of history we'll uncover next!

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The Dalton Defenders Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Coffeyville, the Dalton Defenders Museum sits just steps from Death Alley and the original Condon Bank building.

We hope to see you soon!

For more information visit www.coffeyvillehistory.com

07/03/2026

HISTORY MYSTERY | 07.3.2026

Can you guess what this mysterious item at the Dalton Defenders Museum was used for?

A. An early doorbell system
B. A counterweight used for weighing commodities
C. A tool used in the kitchen or pantry
D. Something else entirely!

Drop your guess in the comments below! ⬇️

The Dalton Defenders Museum is full of history...and a few mysteries. Check back tomorrow for the answer!

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The Dalton Defenders Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Coffeyville, the Dalton Defenders Museum sits just steps from Death Alley and the original Condon Bank building.

We hope to see you soon!

For more information visit www.coffeyvillehistory.com

07/01/2026

WE WILL BE OPEN on SATURDAY, JULY 4 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Coffeyville, the Dalton Defenders Museum sits just steps from Death Alley and the original Condon Bank building.

For more information visit www.coffeyvillehistory.com

ADMISSION:
Adults: $8
Seniors (65+): $7
Kids with an an Adult Admission:
* Age 6-17: $5
* Age 0-6: Free

06/20/2026

HISTORY MYSTERY REVEALED | 06.20.2026

The correct answer is...

A) Branding iron for livestock.

This fascinating piece is an antique branding iron likely from the 1800s to early 1900s, featuring a specific mark for livestock identification. Branding was an essential way to establish ownership and deter theft.

The long handle protected the user from the heat, while the heavy iron head was heated in a fire and then pressed briefly onto the animal's hide to leave a permanent mark.

We love sharing these pieces of agricultural history.

Thanks to everyone who joined in the guessing fun! Stay tuned for our next History Mystery!

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The Dalton Defenders Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Coffeyville, the Dalton Defenders Museum sits just steps from Death Alley and the original Condon Bank building.

We hope to see you soon!

For more information visit www.coffeyvillehistory.com

06/19/2026

HISTORY MYSTERY | 06.19.2026

We found this intriguing old iron tool and want to hear your best guesses! Take a close look at the photo and vote below:

A. Branding iron for livestock
B. Blacksmith’s shaping tool
C. Antique waffle or food press
D. Railroad or farm equipment tool
E. Early cobbler/leatherworking tool
F. Something completely different (tell us in the comments!)

Drop your guess in the comments below! ⬇️

The correct answer (and its fascinating history!) will be revealed tomorrow!

Stop by the Dalton Defenders Museum to see this antique tool and explore more fascinating pieces of Coffeyville history!

------------------------------------------
The Dalton Defenders Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Coffeyville, the Dalton Defenders Museum sits just steps from Death Alley and the original Condon Bank building.

We hope to see you soon!

For more information visit www.coffeyvillehistory.com

06/13/2026

HISTORY MYSTERY REVEALED | 06.13.2026

The correct answers were A and C!

This unusual leather item served two important purposes in horse care:

A) A leather hobble used to limit a horse's movement while grazing. This hobble has been identified as a Mormon Hobble of the 1840s-1850s, designed to keep horses hobbled during the night as a measure of protection against horse thieves.

C) A collar used to secure a shoe boil pad to help prevent a capped elbow in a working horse. The circular leather piece, often lined with horsehair, was designed to hold a protective shoe boil boot firmly in place. A “cap” refers to a bruise or swelling that can sometimes develop into an abscess if left untreated.

Artifacts like this remind us of the many specialized tools once used in the daily care and management of working horses.

Thanks to everyone who joined in the guessing fun! Stay tuned for our next History Mystery!
--------------------
The Dalton Defenders Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Coffeyville, the Dalton Defenders Museum sits just steps from Death Alley and the original Condon Bank building.

We hope to see you soon!

For more information visit www.coffeyvillehistory.com