A Zappar Augmented Reality Tour of Front Street
About the Tour
A Walk on Front Street is an augmented reality tour at the Boot Hill Museum, depicting the life of a Cattle Drover at the end of the trail. Visitors to the museum can walk along Front Street and experience how life must have been in the cattle towns of the 1870’s. There are four stops along the walk, where signs act as augmented reality targets. Each target has a different story to tell from the time the Texas Drover entered town, was paid, until they found themselves gambling in one of the many local saloons. |
What You Will Need
When taking the tour you will need a smartphone and have downloaded the free ZAPPAR application to your mobile device. To get started on the tour, go to the Front Street boardwalk and find the sign “Front Street Times”. Then open the ZAPPAR application on your smartphone or mobile device. The next step is easy, with the ZAPPAR app open, point your phone at the sign and the story of Front Street will take you to your next stop on the tour. You can also use the Zappar Logo above to take you tour from this page.
When taking the tour you will need a smartphone and have downloaded the free ZAPPAR application to your mobile device. To get started on the tour, go to the Front Street boardwalk and find the sign “Front Street Times”. Then open the ZAPPAR application on your smartphone or mobile device. The next step is easy, with the ZAPPAR app open, point your phone at the sign and the story of Front Street will take you to your next stop on the tour. You can also use the Zappar Logo above to take you tour from this page.
A Walk on Front Street is a video tour showing places within the Boot Hill Museum, depicting the life of a Cattle Drover at the end of the trail. Visitors to the museum can walk along Front Street and experience how life must have been in the cattle towns of the 1870’s. The pattern of most cowboys arriving in Dodge City was similar. After cleaning up and buying new clothes, they were likely to seek some liquid refreshment in the saloons.
The prominent saloons in Dodge City included the Alamo, Beatty and Kelley'S Alhambra, Mueller and Straeter's Old House, and the Longbranch, built in 1873 by Charles Bassett, Ford County's first sheriff, and A. J. Peacock. Nearly all the saloons in Dodge City offered gambling.
The prominent saloons in Dodge City included the Alamo, Beatty and Kelley'S Alhambra, Mueller and Straeter's Old House, and the Longbranch, built in 1873 by Charles Bassett, Ford County's first sheriff, and A. J. Peacock. Nearly all the saloons in Dodge City offered gambling.
Tonsorial PalaceTonsorial Palace was first built as the O.K. Clothing Store and became the Nueces Saloon in 1875. In January of 1876 Sally Frazier loaned John Tyler an African American $550.00 to open the Tonsorial Palace as a barbershop. John operated his barbershop until he was unable to pay his debts and it went into foreclosure. Bat Masterson tried to serve the eviction notice but Tyler refused by barricading himself in the parlor, threatening to shoot any man who tried to remove him. Tyler eventually fled to Great Bend Kansas, to avoid arrest, foreclosure of the property and a court ordered payment of a sizable debt. The newly elected Justice of the peace Lloyd Shin purchased the Tonsorial Palace in 1877 and rented it to James C. Conner for a clothing store for $40.00 a month.
|
General OutfittingThe original General Store was operated by Charles Rath, Robert Wright and A.J. Anthony in 1872. It was one of Dodge City’s first businesses. Early customers were primarily buffalo hunters that brought hides to Rath General Store in exchange for cash or goods. People could also purchase items from the store with money. The store was called a “general” store because it was generalized – they sold a wide variety of goods. They sold clothing, food, school supplies, candy, kitchenware, dining ware, farm equipment and hunting supplies among other things.
|
SaratogaThe Saratoga built in 1872 was originally known as the Billiard Saloon and was owned by A.J. Peacock who sold it in 1876 to Chalkley Beeson. Beeson renamed the establishment the Saratoga to appeal to the Texans arriving at the end of the trail. Beeson made improvements to the Saloon by introducing music. He organized a band of musicians to play for the gamblers and drinkers. The Saloon had a chuck-a-luck just inside the entrance. Chuck-a-luck was a dice game played with a metal cage shaped like an hour glass.
|