Annie Oakley
Address:
428 Center Avenue
Oakley,
KS
67748
Telephone Number:
785.672.3223
Website:
About this Exploration:
The early railroad town where Oakley now sits went by several names: Blaisville, Carlyle, Cleveland, and even Gilmore. In 1886, D. D. Hoag started a town company named Oakley, Kansas, in honor of his mother.
We like to think that the name stuck because Annie Oakley was becoming so famous. After all, she started touring with the Sells Brothers Circus in 1884 and joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West in 1885. So even though we may not really be named for Annie Oakley (and she probably never visited our town), people still like to come here and buy Annie Oakley t-shirts, postcards, etc.
Even if you don't stay overnight at the Annie Oakley motel on Oakley's downtown Center Avenue, be sure to stop by and get a picture of the sign. The local laundry mat is also at the hotel if you need to do a quick load of wash before you get back on the road.