The Wizard of Oz museum is an essential stop-off point for all Cairn Terrier lovers, like Dorothy here…

Photo: mazumafykc.com

The approach to the quiet Midwestern town of Wamego is appealing – purple Jacaranda trees and cute farmland stables replete with cows and ponies… Wamego has a population of just over 4,000 and lies 40 miles east of the capital city of Topeka. As soon as you roll into town you’ll spot the main attraction:

THE OZ MUSEUM, KANSAS

Technically dogs are not allowed in the Oz Museum but seeing as there is a lull they kindly make a concession for Bodie, for which I’m profoundly grateful. And not a little amazed with so many breakables at large – Dorothy cookie jars, Glenda the Good Witch porcelain dolls, Toto tchotchkes…

And can you imagine if you had a shoe-chewing dog with these around?

Photo: Visit Wamego

There must be several thousand Oz artefacts here – collector edition books, games, soft toys, even a selection of album covers including Elton John’s Yellow Brick Road – all grouped according to the key players in the story. The mini scenes are the highlight, in particular the life-size Scarecrow…

When Bodie meet Dorothy his ears appear to blow back at the impending tornado…

Bodie takes on the role of the Cowardly Lion at the sight of the Wicked Witch of the West (complete with evil flying monkeys). ‘They’re not real,’ I assure him as his mohawk rises, though I have to admit the giant Tin Man is a tad alarming…

As we exit through the gift shop I’m momentarily stalled by the sight of two burly soldiers taking advantage of the military discount at the ticket desk. Well, they certainly need to believe in a place where troubles melt like lemon drops. Seeing as the car is already jam-packed I try to resist the array of kitschie items including this t-shirt:

In the original movie Toto was played by a female named Terry who earned $125 a week, a fair chunk more than the average Munchkin wage apparently. But then how many of them could claim to have worked with Shirley Temple, Spencer Tracey and Joan Crawford? Even though the film is now 75 years-old, a woman in Wichita is petitioning to designate the Cairn Terrier as the official dog of Kansas while here in Wamego you can dine at Toto’s Tacoz Mexican restaurant…

Across the street there’s an alleyway they’re planning to transform into a yellow brick road, which I think is a terrific idea. Maybe they could rent out little wicker baskets to carry your dog in. Or one of those little old lady wheelie trolleys in Bodie’s case, seeing as he is a good 30lbs heavier than your average Cairn Terrier.

The alleyway leads to a spacious park with a green and yellow John Deere tractor set beside the children’s play area. After a good old sniff around we get back in the car and drive 100 miles until we cross the border into Missouri and I can finally turn to Bodie and say, ‘You’re not in Kansas anymore.’

OZ MUSEUM ADDRESS: 511 Lincoln, Wamego, KS 66547

OZ MUSEUM PHONE: 1-866-458-TOTO (8686)

OZ MUSEUM WEBSITE: www.ozmuseum.com

ADMISSION: $8 Adult, $5 Children. (Military discount – $2)

HOURS: Mon-Sat: 10am to 6pm Sunday: 12pm to 6pm.

Though the Oz Museum is not dog-friendly we wanted to include it for the iconic Toto connection and hopefully you can take turns if you are traveling with a pal.