Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, Kansas City, MO

Saturday, Sept 24, 2016

For our second adventure of the day we went to the "Old West Days" at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. This event was supposed to cost us $5 each.  However we followed the directions on their website to the free shuttle.  It turns out the directions were not clear and we were in the wrong place.  After waiting 45 mins we finally discovered where we were supposed to be.  So at the admissions desk we strongly suggested they put some signs out for people not familiar with the area. We explained we waited 45 mins before we figured out where we were supposed to be.  They gave us free admission for our inconvenience.  That was nice.

When we first walked into the farm area we saw these "cows".  However the sign said "oxen".  So I had to ask, "what is the difference between cows and oxen?"  I was told education.  Cows are trained about 4 years learning all the voice commands used in work on the farm.  I guess they are slow learners.  Hee Hee! Once they obey all the voice commands they graduate to oxen.  

This is one of the Buffalo Soldiers displays. Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the "Negro Cavalry" by the Native American tribes they fought in the Indian Wars.

There was a chuckwagon cook-off that we got to participate in for free.  Everyone there got to sample the cooking of 4 different chuckwagons and vote.  Each wagon served beef, potatoes, beans, biscuits and dessert.  We voted on each item and on best overall.
 

Above and below are a couple of the chuckwagons.

There were also lots of activities the kids could participate in at a small additional cost.
 

Here is the Mahaffie's blacksmith barn. Kids got to shape some iron.
 

Mahaffie's barn.  It was filled with old equipment and horse stalls.  
 

The Mahaffie's house.  We got to tour the inside, but could not get pictures. The woodwork was still so beautiful!
 

The stagecoach was held up.  We missed getting the bad cowboys riding in from one direction.  Then the sheriff and deputies rode in from the other direction.  Kids enjoyed it.

 There were 2 sometimes 3 stagecoaches giving rides.

We rode in this one.  We were told stagecoaches travelled 24 hours a day with stops about every 3 hours to change the horses.  The drivers had a 12 hour shifts then a change of driver. Passengers were unloaded during the change of horses which took about 20 minutes. Seems that would be a hard way to travel.
 

Beatty and Lucinda Mahaffie.  They owned over 500 acres and considered the second wealthiest in the area.  Very interesting history in this little museum.