Museum of World Treasures Occupying a building formerly used for the Farm & Art Market, the seven year old Museum of World Treasures is an impressive addition to Wichita's Old Town. The three story building is filled mostly with items from the collections of two men: David Karpeles of the Karpeles Manuscript Library; and retired physician & the founder of the museum, Dr. Jon Kardatzke. The Museum of World Treasures has memorabilia from athletes, actors, presidents and public figures going back several hundred years. In some cases it is just an autograph or a document that the person had written, but there are often more interesting artifacts. For example the scalp of Custer's nephew (taken at the Little Big Horn). The second floor of the Museum of World Treasures has a Hall of Presidents with memorabilia, and the autographs of all 43 United States Presidents. There is even a lock of George Washington's hair. Other galleries are devoted to scientists and composers, and there are major displays from WWI, WWII, the Civil War and the American Revolution. One of the rare, original manuscripts was a draft of the Bill of Rights. The Museum of World Treasures' main floor features antiquities including weapons, jewelry and statues from the near and far East. There are even several Egyptian sarcophagi & mummies. Last, but not least, there are minerals, meteorites and several dinosaur skeletons. There have been repeated rumors that the Museum of World Treasures may move from Wichita. The most recent one suggested that it might combine with presently undisplayed portions of the special collections at the University of Kansas at a new museum to be located in the former Benchmark building in Olathe, Kansas. The Museum of World Treasures is fun!
Museum of World Treasures
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