Dodge’s defining years brought by cattle trade

The burgeoning cattle industry in Dodge City built many businesses and created many wealthy men. The "cattle barons" quickly realized the possibilities of the industry and capitalized on the opportunity. German immigrant John Mueller arrived in Dodge City in 1875 and opened a boot shop on Front Street. He carefully invested his earnings, investing in a saloon and three ranches. By 1879 he was ready to build a new house. He hired a German stonemason and a German woodworker, and 18 months later his mansion was completed. Sitting on a high hill overlooking the booming town and the prairie, the home, now known as the Mueller-Schmidt House Museum, had an impressive exterior and was filled with high-quality furniture. The kitchen was in the basement. On the ground floor were a parlor and the Mueller's bedroom, later converted into a formal dining room. Upstairs were two additional bedrooms. Today the home is Dodge City's oldest dwelling and contains many original artifacts related to the family, including some original furnishings...Dodge City Daily Globe