The developer of the Eureka Irrigation Canal, to the North of the city, around 1912 promised to build a railroad through Montezuma in return for their support of Ingalls as the county seat. Ingalls lost out but Montezuma did end up with a railroad. A large number of Mennonites settled in the area around Montezuma. The travel adventures of two long-time residents of Southwest Kansas are featured in the
Stauth Memorial Museum. There are displays of handicrafts and arts from every corner of the earth as well as video and slide programs based on their trips. The World Discovery center in the museum has over 60 years of National Geographics, Map & Geography computer games and the travelers’ coin collection from all around the world. Two special areas will draw your attention; the Special Exhibitions Gallery featuring traveling exhibits provided by the Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Service and the exhibition of big game animal trophies which include nearly all of the major North American Big Game species.