My friend Chris (a private pilot) and I flew from Houston, Texas to Chanute, Kansas over the weekend of November 22-23, 2008 to go visit the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum. http://www.safarimuseum.com/ I thought I'd share a few photos from our trip.

Cheers!
-Bob F.

Our ride to Kansas. 1979 Piper Seminole, N2094C :




The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum (and Public Library) in Chanute, Kansas:




Martin and Osa Johnson (they were both pilots):




Osa's flight suit and cap:




Osa's original pilot's license from 1935:




Some of Osa's fashion accessories:

[img]http://www.bunduki.com/bob/osa/chanute1/IMG_0090.jpg[/img]


Some of their trophies:

[img]http://www.bunduki.com/bob/osa/chanute1/IMG_0058.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.bunduki.com/bob/osa/chanute1/IMG_0060.jpg[/img]


One of Osa's rifles donated to the museum by her mother. A Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 Winchester:

[img]http://www.bunduki.com/bob/osa/chanute1/IMG_0077.jpg[/img]


Me with life size sculptures of Martin and Osa Johnson:

[img]http://www.bunduki.com/bob/osa/chanute1/IMG_0093.jpg[/img]

Great pictures and definitely one of my must see someday places.

"I Married Adventure" is a great read and highly recommended. They had an exciting time together.

Thanks for sharing that. I never even knew there was a museum. I remember reading an article several years ago about their travels. Very interesting stuff.

BF,

Thanks so much for this post and the photos! She was a sexy and tough little chunk, for sure, and their documentation makes Old Africa live forever.

I would love to get to the museum someday.

+1 - one of my favorite reads. Was surprised to learn she did most of the shooting while Martin was off filming. Her second book wasn't as good but still an interesting read, IMO.

Boy, those names bring back boyhood memories!!

I too was unaware of the museum. I read "I married adventure" as a high school kid and it stuck in the memory banks. Last year I spotted the zebra stripped cover in a used bookstore from across the room and was on it in a second for $5.00. As 40+ years have passed, I reread it.

I think she drafted one of the better accounts of the logistics, atmosphere, and challenges of being in Africa durning the golden age. They were extremely fortunate to live that life, cover the Pacific and Africa as they did, and especially to share it as a couple. What a great piece of luck that they found each other. My only sorrow is Martin's early taking. With more longevity and secure funding, they could have easily tripled their adventures. What a life!

I appreciate the heads up, and the museum will go on the "to do" list right now. Thank you, 1Minute

Thank you for sharing. I remember watching a program around 1955. One of the episodes that sticks in my mind is Osa taking an elephant with a frontal brain shot. Must have been very confident as I remember she fired, and then looked back at the camera with a huge grin

Fond memories of the dim historic past

Thanks, Bob.

Glad you got to go (for us / me)

Barry