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Strataca - Kansas Underground Salt Museum

Review Highlights

“ Very interesting tour of the salt mine , especially if you get the extended tour package. ” in 11 reviews

“ We did the self-guided tour and paid extra for the train tour and the dark tour for about $20 total a person. ” in 7 reviews

“ . I really liked the hands-on experience of picking up our own salt crystals at the end of the tra m ride ” in 12 reviews

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3650 E Ave G

Hutchinson, KS 67501

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Adventure 650 feet underground in an active salt mine. Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Theatres presented 3 times a year. Rent the StrataCenter, our underground event room, for business meetings, receptions, company dinners. An annual educational field trip for many area classrooms. Scout overnights underground are offered during the winter months. Select overnights include earning a merit badge. …

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Do they still have sweatshirts available to buy that say 'I survived the shaft' on them?

I honestly can't remember exactly which sweatshirts they still have. You might call the museum to ask for that specifically. They have many options of shirts and sweatshirts.

How much of the tours involve walking? Would this be a good experience for someone who was unable to do a lot of walking for extended periods of time?

I think you'd be fine...there are benches to sit throughout and two of the tours I know of are on the "train." You walk at your own pace with the self guided.

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124 reviews

Great place to go enjoyed it a lot I would really love to go back sometime I learned a lot

We had a great time. We paid extra for the safari and it was worth it. Charlie was the highlight of our overall experience. He took us on the dark tour. He answered all of our questions confidently and had a fun sense of humor. Thanks Charlie and the rest of the crew!

Unbelievable museum and tours. The entertainment and educational value far exceeded the price of admission as well as our expectations. We went with our 9 and 11 year old kids, along with their grandparents and were all were amazed with the quality of the experience. It's worth spending the extra few dollars for the salt safari and additional add-ons. All the tours really brought the importance of the mines both past and present into perspective - especially the people who worked there long ago and continue today.

See all photos from Brian L. for Strataca - Kansas Underground Salt Museum

Very interesting tour of the salt mine, especially if you get the extended tour package. You will never look at your salt shaker the same way again! Nice staff and facility. The first part of the tour is pretty much self guided with reading signs and watching short films. The next parts involve riding on open trains through the mine with a narrating guide. **Note: if you have back problems, the ride can become a bit bumpy at times

We had a blast! This place was dynamite! Wish I could buy this place and make it mine. All the puns fully intended. The kids and family all had fun down here. Traveling the country and figured we'd go 650 down into the Earth. Pretty cool (yep, 68 degree pun). Actually our only complaint is the awesome tour guide on our Dark Tour ride didn't make enough mine puns. She set so many up and then didn't knock them down. Hit many, missed many more. This place is pretty neat, but not for the claustrophobic! The ride down takes about 90 seconds and you're in a elevator completely dark with 10 people. It's definitely kid-friendly and highly recommended!

See all photos from Matt M. for Strataca - Kansas Underground Salt Museum

SO MUCH FUN!! It was more than I was expecting! The dark ride was super cool! I would definitely recommend and go again!

THIS. WAS. ONE. OF. THE. BEST. THINGS. I'VE. EVER. DONE. If you get the opportunity, spend the money and come check out this salt mine. I mean, it's even still a working salt mine. You don't actually get to see the working part of the mine but TBH the old section we do get to see is probably more interesting because it's like a time capsule, literally. The salt preserves everything that isn't metal down there. And you do get to interact with miners. They have shift change at 3PM, meaning you can't have access to the hoist to leave until they're done about 45-60 min later. Warning though, they take the "be there 15 min before your scheduled time," VERY seriously. In fact, I think the person who checked us in punished us for being 5 minutes over the scheduled time. We were supposed to be there at noon, meaning 1145AM. We got there at 1205. Now, this isn't me. I'm normally early to everything but stuff kept happening and we ended up being late. Because of this, the extra tour we bought, Salt Safari, had to be rescheduled to 230PM from 1PM! I couldn't understand why but they guy would not budge, so I gave up. Other Safari people were getting off their tram at 1245 and were being told they could now visit the rest of the museum and take their other tours, which pissed me off because that could have been us at 1PM. BS! I watched the 1PM people load, we could have gone with them. But, because we had such a long wait we immersed ourselves in every exhibit and every video to watch and we only had maybe 15 minutes of down boring time. Luckily, they have WiFi. But 4 hours here is a bit much and kind of ruined the rest of our day. I'd highly recommend the Salt Safari if you want to see the really cool stuff. It was a bit repetitive because the Dark Tour has some of the same info but the Safari really takes you inside and you can see walls that haven't been touched since 1956. Seeing the artifacts, how mining has changed over the years and understanding the Earth's layers was just fun. Everyone who works here is super informative and they pay attention to you. The supervisor walked right up to us and was like "you guys are ready for the hoist" points at another couple and is like "your train ride is ready" and I'm how the heck did she know that??? They're watching you. TL;DR This mine is a fun way to spend the afternoon. You'll learn a lot and see a lot of cool things that you wouldn't normally in real life.

See all photos from Christina R. for Strataca - Kansas Underground Salt Museum

It's so fun and interesting. Your ticket is a self-guided tour plus a train and tram ride.

See all photos from Jennifer C. for Strataca - Kansas Underground Salt Museum

This place is so cool! We went on the safari for an hour ride and it was so interesting to hear about all of the history down in the mjnes. Kids liked that we were able to pick our own salt rocks also. Would definitely recommend! Fun for all ages!

What an amazing adventure! It was a great experience for our entire group. The staff there are so sweet and funny and add to the enjoyment of the visit. The Gift Shop is amazing!!

See all photos from Mabel M. for Strataca - Kansas Underground Salt Museum

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This Ride Through An Old Salt Mine In Kansas Will Take You Back In Time

Annie is a freelance writer, content editor, and marketing whiz with a background in broadcasting and a passion for chicken nachos.

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If you are a native to Kansas (or ever took an elementary school field trip), you are probably familiar with Hutchinson’s Strataca: Kansas Underground Salt Museum . While you know the general concept of the mine and museum, did you know that you can actually take a tour of the historic, yet still-working mine? Did you also know that:

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Now that you understand more about the significance of Strataca and the Hutchinson Salt Company, let’s talk more about the fact that you can actually descend 650 feet underground to explore this dark and mysterious world.

For even more information about the museum, check out these 11 Fascinating Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Strataca In Kansas .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Great salt mine tour - Strataca

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• Kansas (KS)    
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Very neat place. Guides were very informative and knowledgeable. The history goes back many... read more

We live about 3 hours away in Kansas and finally took the time to go. It was one of those things... read more

Great salt mine tour

This is a great way to see a salt mine. The first portion is self guided and will take as long as the amount of things you wish to read. There is also old equipment to view. The rail portion is after the self guided portion and then you see some examples of items they currently store in the salt mine before the gift shop. Following the gift shop is the dark tour. The tour guides have some jokes and make the ride interesting. We spent two hours here. I was glad I brought my sweatshirt as it is cool. We highly recommended this tour.

Had a great time in the mine. Got the combo ticket which included the Safari tour. Well worth it!! The staff was friendly and informative.

Great experience. The people who help with this are great. Would highly recommend to anyone. Word of warning tho. The elevator gets really dark. Nothing to worry about tho.

This place is incredible. You will descend 650 feet into a salt mine that is a constant 68 degrees with no humidity. The salt is mined for use on roads. Several displays you see on foot followed two trips on wheels to explain how the salt is mined. The amazing thing is that most movies and TV shows wind up stored in this mine. Hundreds of thousands of shows and movies as well as movie props. The mine is active but the salt being mined is a mile and a half away.

We had a great tour(s) today. The rail portion is fairly short and the Dark tour is a little longer and our tour guide was very good. Lots of information along the way. The Safari Tour, which is an add on with Combo pass, I recommend adding it on. Learned so much and our guide for that portion was great. There’s a number of areas to stop and read or watch a video when first coming in. A few areas with equipment previously used to see as well. We were there for 3 1/2 hours. Make time for this cool stop. We learned so much.

This experience is worthwhile but I wish I’d understood better how it works. We didn’t know what to expect. First was an intro session with some basic safety things. We put on hard hats then rode 90 seconds in the very dark tiny elevator. Then we thought the person who did the intro tour was going to be staying with us. Then we thought the person who met us at the bottom of the elevator was our tour guide. Turns out it is a self-guided tour and it didn’t matter at all that we got separated from our group, but it took us a long time to figure that out so I felt a bit stressed that we were stragglers. There are a lot of interesting displays through the long, high ceilinged tunnel We rode on the train and the tram. At the gift shop there’s some movie memorabilia but I didn’t understand why it was there. Batman costume? A few others. Cool — but why are they there? Reading about it a little more later I realize those were actual costumes being stored, protected by the salt mine. Apparently there are boxes of actual original films there also being protected by the salt mine. Unfortunately, we didn’t understand that while we were there. Better communication would have made this whole visit better for us. Also we had to wait kind of a long time, 20-30 min, for the elevator to take us back up at the end.

We have been through Kansas before, but only in transit to other places. We stopped by Monument Rocks in 2016. But that is about it. This time, we visit another of Kansas’s 8 wonders: the Strataca Salt Mines. While, above ground, this region seems as unremarkable as most – wide flat farm land cut by railway tracks – the town of Hutchinson has hidden depths.

The salt deposits below the surface were first mined in 1887. Since then, these subterranean caverns have not only sourced rock and table salt, but they have also served as an ideal storage area. The naturally constant temperature and humidity have lead film, medical records and other critical physical items to be stored in the previously mined halls.

Today, along with mining and records keeping, the salt mine hosts tours where visitors can wander the massive pillar and room chambers left by Strataca mining past, see displays explaining the mining and archiving process along with pieces from the archive including costumes, props, and and equipment from major motion pictures.

Mining in Strataca

Strataca his host to a rich deposit of salt, hidden under the ground. The Permian Wellington Formation is one of the largest formations in the world. Six hundred fifty feet below ground level, is a vein of the purest salt. In 1887, salt was discovered outside of Hutchinson, Kansas. In 1923, the Carey Salt Mine opened, now known as the Hutchinson Salt Company. Mining continues just northwest of Strataca, providing road and table salt across the United States.

Science in Strataca

Salt can also act as a genetic time capsule for scientists. Biologists Russel Vreeland and William D. Rosenzweig and geologist Dennis W. Powers extracted a drop of water captured in a piece of pure New Mexico salt. The team not only identified four strains of bacteria preserved in this salt chamber but also successfully revived them identifying one strain, Virgibacilllus, as related to a strain currently found in the Dead Sea. Some researches have concluded that Virgibacilllus could be as old as 250 million years. While still a matter of debate, the implications of revived life from salt is tremendous! Jurrasic Park , anyone?

Storage at Strataca

As if the mining and scientific discoveries at Strataca didn’t make the retired salt mine interesting enough, the mine continues it’s commercial operation as a storage facility. But not just any old facility. The constant climate and remote location makes it ideal for storing sensitive physical objects. Medical recorders, movie props, and many other valuable items are stored deep in the cavernous hallways of the old mine. Were you born in the midwest? Your records are probably here. Even if your medical history is elsewhere, you may take interest in some notable pieces on display. Costumes, props, and film canisters from major Hollywood films. See a jumpsuit worn by Cameron Diaz, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s infamous Dr. Freeze costume, and a manikin of Agent Smith from Matrix Revolutions .

Back to the Road

We thought we would spend an hour at Strataca. Three hours later, we emerged from the mine, overwhelmed and delighted. Maybe we’re just nerds, but I think Strataca earned it’s place among the 8 wonders of Kansas.

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Tuesday - Saturday: 9:00am - 3:00pm Sunday: 1:00pm - 3:00pm Closed Monday

Grab a hand and hold on tight because the double-decker hoist at Strataca is about to take you 650 feet underground in less than 90 seconds. This is a thrilling way to start your own journey into the center of the earth. You won’t stop your descent until you are safely below the surface in the middle of one of the largest salt deposits in the world. Here, you can explore environs carved from salt deposits formed more than 275 million years ago.

Tours are available for those over age four, with varying degrees of thrill and adventure. Docents conduct tours of the rooms that have been left behind once the salt has been removed. Some of these tours can be conducted via an underground train ride. Other guests prefer to enjoy the self-guided tour. One exhibit is machinery, equipment, tools, dynamite displays, and items that were used by salt miners in decades pasts. There are even cars and tractors that were lowered into the mine.  

Since the humidity below ground is a constant 40%, it is ideal for preservation. A private company, Underground Vaults and Storage, stores items for various states, countries, and companies. Visitors will have the chance to view artifacts that are truly one-of-a-kind, including costumes from some of Hollywood’s popular blockbuster movies.

The Salt Mine Express is available to take visitors throughout the salt mine. This 15-minute train ride is a blast from the past, with virtually everything as it was fifty years ago. As miners used to say, “What goes in the mine, stays in the mine.” For a longer traveling adventure, visitors may enjoy the 30-minute Dark Ride. This tram tour goes through an area of the mine that includes lit areas explaining air flow, nuclear waste storage, and mine hazards.

Those looking for a thrill can take a salt safari and explore areas of the mine where few have gone before. Guests can venture deep into the untold secrets of Strataca, participating in a subterranean quest unlike anything you can experience on the surface. The salt formations here are spectacular and breathtaking, providing a glimpse into a secret world found under the surface of the earth. What lies under your feet right now? To find out, you need to visit Strataca.

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Strataca: Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson, Kansas

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What makes Strataca unique?

Strataca, dubbed one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas , is an underground salt museum that takes visitors 650 feet below the Earth’s surface.  A 90-second ride down a dark shaft leads to a lithic abyss that showcases everything utilized and discovered during mining, along with a few extra surprises. There are fifteen mines of this kind in the United States, but Strataca is the only one that allows admission to the public. 

Mining began in the early 1920s and continues today. The salt museum, itself, is a mere speck amongst the almost 1000 acres of excavation.  Because the mine has been in operation for so many decades, mining techniques have evolved making production more efficient and seamless.  These different mining methods are mentioned throughout the museum’s many exhibits and attractions. Most of the salt gathered and processed in this underground facility is used as road salt and mineral licks (salt licks).

The underground cavern is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit, so bring a jacket if that sounds chilly. The cool air coupled with the low humidity, salt absorbs moisture in the air and inhibits the growth of many types of bacteria and mold, makes for great storage.  Artifacts and documents have found homes in the nooks and crannies of the mine, including Hollywood films and costumes, old computer setups, complete newspaper clippings dated back to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, and even trash left behind from miners in the 1920s.

What should visitors expect to see and do at Strataca?

After collecting our tickets, we were directed to wait for the next tour which took less than thirty minutes to begin.  The expansive waiting area had several information boards regarding the mine and geological facts.  A documentary about the underground salt mine was playing on a screen in the sitting area.  We went on a weekday in February 2015 and the place was pretty desolate, the total number of visitors was under ten.

Orientation:  Our tiny group was ushered into a side room that had rows of seats facing a flat screen.  We watched a short clip about mine safety and features of the museum.  The tour guide asked if we had any questions and then, once again, ushered us to an adjoining room that housed a number of safety hats for our choosing.  All visitors venturing into the underground salt museum must wear one.

The Shaft: The Shaft is the gateway to the salt museum. It is a minute and a half long journey through layers upon layers of rock, approximately 1/10 of a mile below the earth’s surface.  The Shaft can fit up to 30 people at a time.  The ride itself is dark and will creak and moan on its descent. This may be a big reason why more do not flock to this site.  Descending many feet in a metal box (clanging sounds included ) may not be a top item on bucket lists. However, safety seems to be at the forefront of this facility, and we did not feel in danger at any point on the tour.

That being said, I was a bit intimidated getting into the contraption, but the guide and other visitors kept a dialogue going with questions and comments about the Shaft and mining operations.  At one point during the ride, the guide turned on her flashlight, allowing it to shine through the Shaft’s perforated window. We were awe struck observing the layers of sediment flash by as we zoomed down further.

A little snippet of us in the Shaft just before the doors are closing. (Pardon the vertical footage.)

Upon exiting the Shaft, visitors are able to take in the underground stretch of the salt mine.  I, being the less brave of our duo, actually felt more comfortable in the openness.  The space represented that of a giant hall or parking garage with shimmery walls.  The air was clean, but (naturally) had hints of salt.

A side note: All of the underground exhibits and attractions flow into one another quite smoothly.  We were broken up into groups once we reached the underground arena.  Our group of four just happened to start in the gallery portions of the museum, but the other group  began their tour with the train and tram rides.  We always had the same tour guide, as well, on each venture. This could have been due to the fact that there were so few of us present. Regardless, there was always a guide or staff assistance available in every section of the museum.

The Permian Room:  The Permian Room is the first gallery visitors will encounter. The wide, long corridor features exhibits, some interactive, regarding the Permian Period and the eventual formation of salt deposits underground, facts and uses of salt, and oddities found on the walls of the corridor formed naturally or man-made. Oddly enough, there are no fossils in the mine, a product of the evolutionary changes that it underwent.

Mining Galley:  The Mining Gallery is another segment of the salt museum.  Visitors are able to learn everything from working conditions to various equipment utilized throughout the many decades since the mine has been in operation.  The actual hardware that was used to dig and blast through the acres of underground expanse are displayed with accompanying information boards and visual/audio demonstrations/documentaries.

A fun tidbit: The salt mines that link to the Strataca museum were featured in an episode of the once popular series, “Dirty Jobs” hosted by the infamous daredevil Mike Rowe.  The entire episode is featured below.

Harry’s Habitat:   This section of the self-guided tour is devoted to the most unlikely character.  The oldest living organism was discovered within this geological wonder, a single salt dwelling bacteria named Harry. Harry is an estimated 250 million years old; try putting that many candles on a birthday cake! This little guy has undergone a number of studies in attempts to better understand the sustainability of life on this planet, and for that matter others.

Movie Memorabilia:   As mentioned earlier, the conditions within the underground salt mine are ideal for eternally preserving items that would otherwise deteriorate overtime.   The museum displays only a handful of this memorabilia.  The rest is locked away in vaults throughout the underground matrix.

Salt Mine Express:  Take a ride on the Salt Mine Express and experience corridors of the museum that are “literally” preserved in time.  This 15-minute audio tour takes visitors through areas of the once active mine excavated during the 1940s and 1950s.

The Dark Ride: This tram takes visitors into the dark reaches of what was once an active mine, but light is included to actually show said environment.  The tour, narrated by a tour guide, delves into the logistics of working in the mine, man-made and natural hazards, and how safety measures have been incorporated.

Other Attractions/Events Offered:    One attraction we did not experience was the Safari Shuttle ride/hike.  It is a more extensive tour that takes small groups further into inactive mine territory to view artifacts up close and hear many more underground tales.

Community involvement is quite evident when viewing the many year round events sponsored by Strataca.  School field trips and overnight scout campouts are just a few activities offered to the youth.  The public, at large, can sign up for the annual 5K race/walk in February or opt to attend a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.

Amenities:  There are a number of amenities offered above and below ground at Strataca for the comfort and convenience of visitors. Locker rooms allow visitors to store cumbersome packs, the bathrooms below are a site to see with the salt mine walls making up most of the room, a gift shop has a slew of geological merchandise, and if you get the munchies, snacks are sold in the museum. Not all attractions in the salt museum are handicap accessible, most notably the rides.

What are the hours of operation and admission prices?

Kansas Underground Salt Museum opens its doors to the public six days a week, excluding Mondays.  Hours of operation are 9 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday through Saturday and 1 PM to 5 PM, Sundays.  However, the final tours are taken below by 3 PM.  Age limits are observed at Strataca; all visitors 4 years or older are welcome.

General admission underground ranges depending on age and range from $7.50 to $14.00.  Discounts are offered to locals and active duty veterans.  General admission encompasses all access to the salt museum save the rides.  The price increases as rides are added.  We paid a little under $20 per person for general admission plus train and tram tours.  Not bad for such an in depth look into the underground world of salt mines!

Where is it located?

Kansas Underground Salt Museum is located on the southeast corner of Hutchinson, Kansas. If traveling on Interstate 135, exit onto the US-50, eastbound.  Travel approximately 30 miles to the  Yoder Road/Airport Road exit and head northbound.  Strataca is located on the northwest corner of South Yoder Road and East Avenue G.

Strataca is a definite “must-see” if you are ever driving through middle Kansas.  For more information on places to see and experience in and around our nation, check out our  Trail Guide page.  If you have visited some of these sites or have a suggestion on nearby sites, leave us a comment below! Happy trails!

2 thoughts on “Strataca: Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson, Kansas”

Love to see this unusual place in Kansas — it is going on our ‘to see’ list. Thanks for such complete information.

Thanks for the kind words. Kansas has so much to offer!

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