Hello Chanute! I am the new Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum Director following the retirement of the exemplary Conrad Froehlich’s time as director. I am elated to have been given the opportunity to direct this museum and to have Conrad as a mentor as I learn all the ins and outs of the Safari Museum’s world!
I wanted to give everyone a little introduction on who I am! I’m Kim Westcott, I moved from my Alma Mater’s hometown Manhattan in late June! I went to Kansas State to study history and American Ethnic Studies and to study leadership during my post-grad. I am originally from Emporia, KS. I am so excited to be in this part of the state and to fold into the local community here in Chanute.
My passion for history and historic preservation began when I was very young and my late father took me to the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita. I remember being enraptured by the Civil War exhibit and of course the T-Rex. I then dedicated most of my educational pursuits towards history. I truly believe museums like this one and all over are the heart of different communities. They create a space for us to connect to those who came before us and the inspiration to keep adventuring in our lives.
While I have only been at the museum for a few weeks, I feel like I have learned a great deal about who Martin and Osa were as people and about their legendary adventures all over the world. Upon reading I Married Adventure for the first time, I was awe struck about the ways in which their adventurous spirit took them around the world and for their tenacity for making it happen. This museum is such a gem in Chanute and a love letter to the people of Kansas. I believe we all have a little of their spirit in us.
Have you ever read I Married Adventure? I would love to hear your thoughts on Osa’s autobiography! We have copies available in Osa’s Ark Museum Store!
I would like to invite everyone to Chanute’s Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum this summer! Please stop in my office and say hi! I would love to meet everyone from around town! Our museum admission is free for the rest of this month thanks to our Passport Sponsor Home Savings Bank. Free admission in August will be sponsored by Jennifer Dietsch-State Farm! Come and take advantage of our free museum days and thank our generous Passport Sponsors.
I’d also like to invite everyone to K’s on August 4th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The museum will be hosting a welcome meet and greet for me, so the community can come say hi!
The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum and Osa’s Ark Museum Store are open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00AM-5:00PM. For more information call the museum at 620-431-2730, visit SafariMuseum.com, and check us out on Facebook. Be on the lookout for our upcoming Tiktok account!
