The area's colorful past is preserved in the museum and several outbuildings—and a bronze statue of Wild Bill Hickok greets you. The museum depicts life on the Plains during the American pioneer movement and includes exhibits about cowboy life on the Chisholm Trail, Joseph McCoy, the amazing evolution of the telephone, the story of Abilene entrepreneur C.L. Brown, whose 1899 start-up company became Sprint (now owned by T-Mobile), and a 1,500-piece farm toy museum. In a separate facility, climb aboard one of 24 original carved ponies or four chariots for a musical ride on the restored 1901 C.W. Parker carousel (NRHP; 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs).