|
|
| Kansas Heritage Tourism
1870s Era-Authentic Work, Pastime and Playtime Experiences Offered at Wichita's Cowtown this Summer ----- Submitted by Division of Arts & Cultural Services (acato@wichita.gov) New Youth Programs make learning fun This summer Old Cowtown Museum's Education Department is offering four new programs and guided experiences. Children in local day-care, preschools and latchkey programs now have a fun and interactive way to learn more about the history of Wichita and Sedgwick County. Programs are available mornings and afternoons, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays throughout the summer.  · 1870s Games and Pastimes introduces children to a sampling of the wide array of leisure-time activities available to children -- once they have their chores done, of course. · Buffalo and Beans: The Hunter and the Cowboy focuses on a number of practical skills needed to survive and thrive on the prairie long before many modern conveniences had come along. · For a Song and a Dance offers children the opportunity to explore some of the basic instruments of the time as well as some of the basic dances children would learn as they began their steps into the world of society. · What's there to do on a Farm challenges the image of farming as only drudgery and work. While children will get a chance to explore a few chores, the majority of the time will be spent exploring some of the ways that farm kids made their own fun. Each program provides an hour-and-a-half of activities directed by Museum staff as well as some time to explore the museum. Programs are designed for groups of 10-25 students. A special discounted rate of $3/child with one adult for every 10 children admitted free is available by calling the Education Department at 350-3317 or e-mail Sheri Gaskins at sgaskins@wichita.gov to book a program. Registration is required at least two weeks in advance. Cowtown is located at 1865 W. Museum Blvd, Wichita, KS. It's website is www.oldcowtown.org.
Rediscover the Great American Road Trip Along Kansas’ Scenic Byways May 27, 2010, Topeka, Kan., … With miles of rolling hills, shining lakes and natural stone formations, the nine Kansas Scenic Byways tell the history of Kansas. From the remnants left by ancient glaciers to the Wild West, these beautiful drives offer panoramic vistas, family friendly activities, and an affordable way to discover America’s heartland. Flint Hills National Scenic Byway: Stretching just over 47 miles across the Flint Hills of Kansas on K-177 between Council Grove and Cassoday, the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway shows off the rolling beauty of the tallgrass prairie. With its sweeping grasses and limestone bluffs, the endless vistas have remained unchanged for thousands of years, and represent the largest remaining tract of tallgrass prairie in North America. Frontier Military Scenic Byway: The Frontier Military Scenic Byway extends nearly 167 miles from Fort Leavenworth in the north to Baxter Springs in the south, through much of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area. Starting near the National Historic Landmark of Fort Leavenworth, the byway highlights Kansas history from the Johnson County and Legler Barn Museums through the Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield Site, the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Hotel Stilwell in Pittsburg. The route is a mix of two and four-lane paved roads. Glacial Hills Scenic Byway: The Glacial Hills Scenic Byway begins at the intersection of K-7 and K-92 in Leavenworth, and rolls 63 miles north through the Glacial Hills of northeast Kansas, where glaciers once covered the land. When they receded, they left behind a unique, scenic landscape of rolling, wooded hills and rock-strewn valleys with clear, running streams. The Byway visits some of the earliest settled communities in Kansas along the Missouri River including Atchison, Leavenworth, Troy and White Cloud. Architectural heritage and wildlife abound along the Missouri, as does Kansas’ natural beauty. An overlook in White Cloud offers views of four states: Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway: Traveling the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway offers 42 miles of flat mesas, deep canyons, high hills and caprock formations from Medicine Lodge to the junction of U.S. 160 and U.S. 183 at Coldwater. Named for the underlying layers of gypsum, the Gypsum, or “Red” Hills are a phenomena unique in Kansas. Their distinctive color comes from the iron in the soil that “rusts” when exposed. From rolling farm and prairie grazing land to the rugged, gypsum-capped flower pot shale mesas and buttes with minimal vegetation, the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway showcases an incredible Kansas scene. Native Stone Scenic Byway: The Native Stone Scenic Byway showcases an area in Kansas that is well known for its native limestone. The native limestone fences farms and ranches, and is evident in bridges and buildings, as well. The byway journeys on K-4 and K-99 through Mission Creek and Mill Creek valleys, in Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties in the glorious Flint Hills. Natural elements abound: twisting, winding creeks, grazing land, vast vistas, stone deposits, elevation changes, seasonal foliage and wildflowers. Post Rock Scenic Byway: The Post Rock Scenic Byway is named for the unique native limestone rocks used for fence posts in the area – a lasting reminder of the ingenuity of the early settlers. The 18-mile route that extends north and south on K-232 through the Smoky Hills and the Saline River Valley, links the communities of Wilson and Lucas. Wilson is known as the Czech capital of Kansas, while Lucas is the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas, and home to the Garden of Eden, a tourist attraction on the National Register of Historic Places. A six-mile stretch of the byway sweeps around Wilson Lake and offers scenic turnouts that overlook the dam and offer vistas of the lake and the valley below. Rest areas, trails, picnic areas and campgrounds offer a variety of recreational opportunities. Prairie Trail Scenic Byway: The Prairie Trail Scenic Byway is a 56-mile length of K-86 through north central Kansas, beginning near Canton, not far from where the Santa Fe and Chisholm Trails brought travelers and cattle in the 19th century. The Byway heads north past the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and up to Roxbury, then heads west on Smoky Valley Road, offering breathtaking views overlooking the Refuge. The Prairie Trail Scenic Byway continues toward Lindsborg, the Swedish Capital of Kansas, where four-foot tall, colorful wooden “Dala” horses grace each corner in downtown. Kanapolis State Park features fishing and boating on the reservoir, as well as wooded campsites, sandy beaches and an extensive trail system running through sandstone canyons. Smoky Valley Scenic Byway: The Smoky Valley Scenic Byway takes travelers through 60 miles of west central Kansas through the Smoky Hill River Valley. Named for their "hazy" appearance at sunrise and sunset, the Smoky Hills provide a transition between the mixed-grass prairie and the short-grass prairie of the plains. The Smoky Valley Scenic Byway is steeped in the rich history of the westward movement of the pioneers along the Smoky Valley Trail. Drivers can also discover ancient history at Castle Rock with its tall, steep-sided chalk formations, originally formed 80 million years ago. Smoky Hill chalk is known the world over for the fossils of reptiles and other sea life that have been discovered in the formations. Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway: The Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway is the gateway to a panoramic display of birds and wildlife, curving around Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge for 76 miles. As the Byway moves through glistening wetlands exploding with wildlife, endless blue skies and the changing color of prairie grasses and trees, travelers will also find the charm and vibrancy of the rural communities shaped by nature and the entrepreneurial spirit. Along the Byway, discover Great Bend and the Central Kansas Raptor Rehab Education Facility, the railroad town of Hoisington, and the underground tunnels at Ellinwood. For more information on traveling in Kansas, visit www.TravelKS.com. .
Kansas Sampler Festival
The Kansas Sampler Festival will take place Saturday, May 1 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, May 2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Venue is Ray Miller Park, 4201 S. 4th Street, Leavenworth. The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday at 9 a.m.to kick-off the 2010 exploring season. More than 300 exhibitors will be there to inspire folks to explore Kansas! You'll be swimming in day trip ideas when you leave and you'll be happily filled to the brim with Kansas pride. You'll hear Kansas music, eat Kansas foods, buy Kansas products, and talk to lots of Kansans about their favorite nooks and crannies in the state. More information is available at: http://kansassampler.blogspot.com/2010/04/festival-from-inside.html
Not Exactly Historic; Not Exactly Tourism; Definately Fun In Kansas ! Check out this website: http://www.getruralkansas.org/
KANSAS 150 SPEAKERS BUREAU
Kansas 150 Is your property involved in the 2011 sesquicentennial year or warm up your audience this year? Click for a list of Kansas Humanities speakers and topics for presentations and discussions about Kansas!
Flint Hills Steam Car Tour May 17-21, 2010 Manhattan, Kansas Five-day tour in the Flint Hills by steamcar across spectacular vistas of Tallgrass Prairie and winding along creek bottom roads. Points of interest along the way include: The Flint Hills- A Kansas Treasure http://kansasflinthills.travel/ Manhattan, Kansas Manhattan Video www.VisitManhattanKS.org Abilene, Kansas http://www.abilenekansas.org/ (see Visitor's Guide / Attractions) Museum of Independent Telephony 1901 steam driven C.W. Parker Carousel Dwight D. Eisenhower's boyhood home Eisenhower Library and Museum Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad http://www.abilenekansas.org/page.aspx?page_id=17 Historic Fort Riley General George A. Custer's home Wamego, Kansas http://www.wamego.org/ Walter P. Chrysler's birthplace 1879 Dutch Mill Oz Museum Columbian Theater from 1893 Chicago World's Fair Hayes House (the oldest restaurant west of the Mississippi) http://www.hayshouse.com/ For more info: www.prairiesteamers.com
Follow the Yellow Brick...Links The Travel & Tourism Division has announced the Yellow Brick Road Trip summer promotion.The Yellow Brick Road Trip campaign encourages Kansans to get out and experience Kansas this travel season. The campaign is centered on a new interactive website, www.yellowbrickroadtrip.com, which features 10 regional itineraries covering the entire state. The site also includes an easy-to-use navigation system, valuable coupons and a file upload function that lets visitors share photos and video through social media. Beginning May 17, the campaign will expand beyond the website to include targeted radio, print, outdoor and digital advertising. Additionally, Travel & Tourism announced a new partnership with AAA, the automobile industry’s premier service group, that will raise Kansas’ visibility as a travel destination.
Kansas 8 Wonders Finalist Named Which Ones Won? See our News page! Some places on this list tell the story of incredible adventure and others tell of unbelievable heartache and pain. There are stories of kids that just want a family and others that just want a decent education. One story is about working underground and another is living with constant dust in the air. From aviation to war, from flour milling to gas exploration, this list presents a wide range of story lines that have the common bond of being part of the Kansas story. The 24 finalists for the
8 Wonders of Kansas History are... 1930s Dust Bowl to Gas Exploration, Historic Adobe Museum, Ulysses, Ks tells the story of human survival to industrial boom.
Black Jack Battlefield, Baldwin City, Ks. Many historians agree that this battle fought between Free-State and Pro-Slavery men was the beginning of true civil war combat in Kansas, making it where the American Civil War began.
Boot Hill Museum/Historic Dodge City, Ks Santa Fe Trail, buffalo traders, cattle drives, and lawmen made the city famous then -- and now.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, Topeka, Ks.,one of four schools represented in the landmark lawsuit that ended racial segregation in public schools, and because of the interpretive exhibits.
Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum, Arkansas City, Ks., depicts the history of the largest and last land rush (race for land) in the history of America.
Constitution Hall State Historic Site, Lecompton, Ks. The events that transpired inside the walls of this two-story, wood-frame building were, without a doubt, major events leading to the American Civil War.
Council Grove, Ks., Santa Fe Trail National Historic Landmark, the site of a 1825 treaty that led to an intersection of cultures between Kaw Native Americans and Kansas pioneers.
El Cuartelejo Pueblo Ruins, Scott County, Ks., archeologically significant as the northeasternmost pueblo ruin in the United States, dating from 1650 to 1750 A.D.
Fort Hays State Historic, Hays, Ks., a major player in helping to settle Kansas and the West, and the original blockhouse is one of only a few left in the nation.
Fort Scott National Historic Site, Fort Scott, Ks. played a significant role in the western expansion of the nation, as well as the Bleeding Kansas, and Civil War eras.
Historic Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Ks., established in 1827, the oldest U.S. Army post west of the Mississippi River in continuous operation and has been historically known as the "intellectual center of the Army."
Home on the Range Cabin, Smith County, Ks., in 1871 Dr. Brewster Higley wrote the words to what would become the Kansas state song near here.
Kansas Museum of History, Topeka, Ks., tells the state's colorful story featuring early people, trails, settlements, Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War, trains and towns, early 20th century, and the recent past.
Kanza Tribe and Lewis & Clark's Independence Creek, Atchison, Ks., where the Kanza Indians and Lewis and Clark shared a common area at different times
Lead and zinc mining, Baxter Springs and Galena Ks museums, from 1870 to 1945 the region was rated as the leading producer of lead and zinc concentrates in the world.
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site, Olathe, Ks., the original 1865 limestone farmhouse is the only working stagecoach stop left on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
National Orphan Train Complex, Concordia, Ks. the only museum in the country that focuses entirely on the Orphan Train Movement.
Nicodemus National Historic Site, Nicodemus, Ks. the oldest and only remaining all-Black town west of the Mississippi River.
Osage Mission Museum, St. Paul, Ks. tells about the Osage Mission, established in 1847, and how it was the most important and influential frontier settlement in southeast Kansas; and its missionaries established more than 100 mission stations in Kansas and beyond.
Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site, Republic County, Ks. one of the only museums in the Central Plains that tells the story of an indigenous tribe.
Smoky Valley Roller Mill, Lindsborg, Ks., the oldest operational roller (flour) mill in the Midwest and the only one with all of its original equipment in place.
More than 170 historical sites were nominated by you and many others statewide. The Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center and the Kansas Underground Salt Museum were chosen as overall 8 Wonders of Kansas so they were not eligible in the History contest.The contest purpose is to educate the world about Kansas and to encourage travel in the state. The History contest is one in a series organized by the Inman-based Kansas Sampler Foundation. The eight rural culture elements used by the Foundation to help a town assess itself are each showcased in their own contest. Previously, the top 8 Wonders have been decided in Architecture, Art, Commerce, Cuisine, Customs, and Geography. After History, the last contest will feature People. The overall 8 Wonders of Kansas were announced on Kansas Day 2008. Info on voting and results can be seen at www.8wonders.org. More info: kansassamplerfestival.com.
Cozy Inn in Salina, KS Makes Travel Channel’s Top 101 List
Already a popular favorite for many Kansans across the state, the Cozy Inn in Salina is receiving some well-deserved national recognition. The historic diner recently ranked #69 on the Travel Channel’s 101 Tastiest Places to Chow Down. It was also named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Cuisine by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The Cozy Inn has been grilling onion-filled sliders, and only that, since 1922. After 87 years with their single location in Salina, a new Cozy Inn location is set to open this summer in Manhattan. More info is available at www.cozyburger.com.
1874 Stonehouse, LLC Named One of the Eight Best in the Midwest The 1874 Stonehouse, LLC in Cottonwood Falls, KS recently received the honor of “Best in the Midwest” from BedandBreakfast.com, a leading on-line bed and breakfast directory and reservation network worldwide. The luxuriously restored house, built of native stone in 1874, features varied habitat for birding and wildlife, prairie restoration projects and a library with over 400 books related to Kansas. A mile-long nature trail passes a fishing pond, river valley and towering trees plus the prairie restoration projects. The selection criteria include both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of independently posted reviews on BedandBreakfast.com. Since launching the BedandBreakfast.com reviews program almost three years ago, inn-goers have submitted nearly 85,000 B&B reviews. For more information visit www.stonehousebandb.com.
Location of 2010 Symphony in the Flint Hills Announced
Texas/Kansas Rancher to Share Private Land with the Public  (Jan. 13, 2010, Topeka, Ks) Edward Bass, a rancher with extensive interests in Texas and Kansas, will host the fifth anniversary of the Symphony in the Flint Hills on his picturesque tallgrass pasture in Chase County.
“The Flint Hills are blessed with some of the most magical, natural landscapes of our continent,” said Bass. “Most of the time it’s only a small band of cowboys that get to experience their full beauty though. The Symphony in the Flint Hills will allow several thousand people to become immersed in a remarkable nature setting enhanced by a celebration of musical arts. I am enormously proud to help make this happen.”
Bass’ “South Clements Pasture” is seven miles south of Cottonwood Falls and eight miles west of Bazaar. This is the first time Bass’s ranchlands have been open to the public. “We appreciate Ed Bass opening his property to 7,000 enthusiasts of nature and the arts,” said Emily Hunter, executive director of the Symphony in the Flint Hills. “This land provides spectacular prairie vistas just as they would have appeared over 8,000 years ago. It is a truly magnificent location – perfect for our fifth anniversary of celebrating the Flint Hills.” The fifth anniversary also marks the fifth year in a row that the governor of Kansas has served as the event’s honorary chair. In keeping with tradition, the Kansas City Symphony will also be back for a fifth year to perform the sunset concert and UMB returns for a third year as a major presenting sponsor. One element that changes each year, however, is the theme. This year, the symphony has selected “Ranching on the Tallgrass Prairie” as the theme. “Good ranching is integral to the continuation of the tallgrass prairie, and we will emphasize this in a number of ways during the event – from the location of the event to the afternoon presentations featuring ranchers talking about present-day ranching life to Flint Hills cowboys riding herd,” said Hunter. Historically cattle trails, then railroads and now highways have brought Texas cattle to the lush grasslands of the Kansas Flint Hills. Bass will join local ranchers in telling the story of how cattle grazing on the unique tallgrass prairies of the region has evolved over a period of 150 years to incorporate sustainable practices that emulate the natural migrations of the bison herds that once populated America’s heartland. While event organizers are committed to telling the story of the Flint Hills through the event, they also focus on helping the local economy. More than 7,000 people will visit Chase County the day of the symphony – more than tripling the resident population. Of the $3 million that will have been spent over five years producing the concert series, 74 percent will have gone directly to Flint Hills’ rural enterprises and services. The 2010 Symphony in the Flint Hills will be held on Sat., June 12, 2010. Tickets are $63 and will go on sale March 8. More info is available at www.symphonyintheflinthills.org. About the Symphony in the Flint Hills
The Symphony in the Flint Hills is an annual outdoor concert series that debuted in June 2006 and has sold out every year since. The symphony moves each year to a different site in the Flint Hills, providing an opportunity for the public to visit private ranchland. The event is organized by Symphony in the Flint Hills Inc., a grassroots non-profit organization with a mission to heighten awareness and appreciation of the Flint Hills. More info is available at www.symphonyintheflinthills.org.
(advertisment) 
Historical Museums See More Traffic Despite Bad Economy
"People are dying to touch old stuff. If we arm them with white gloves and a little education they can have fun and learn at the same time." ----- Jena Mottola, executive director, Edmond Historical Society and Museum
Maybe people are looking for sturdy stuff in these unsteady times. Or perhaps they hope to learn from the artifacts of their ancestors, those who depended more on their own self-reliance than on the things they could buy. Some may wonder as they pay their energy bills just how humanity coped without airconditiong, computers, phones, gadgets and gas stations.
Evidence of this curiosity is seen in unexpected increases in traffic counts at historical museums. Edmond Oklahoma is a case in point. The Edmond Sun reports the economic downturn has not slowed things down at the Edmond Historical Society and Museum. In fact, traffic has been even more heavy as people look for inexpensive entertainment as a way to save money:
“Families are looking for low-cost entertainment,” said Jena Mottola , Executive Direcor of the Emond Historical Society and Museum. The museum is offering white glove visits, where any age group can request a certain theme of artifacts to be brought out.
“People are dying to touch old stuff,” she said. “If we arm them with white gloves and a little education they can have fun and learn at the same time.”
A similar story comes from Dodge City, Kansas, the Queen of the Cowtowns. Janice Klein, director of the Mueller-Schmidt House Museum (1881) in Dodge City, notes that this summers visitors are not only larger in numbers than last year, but a different type of tourist. "Our visitors are not the same ones that visit Dodge City's Boot Hill Museum," Janice says. "They are people that want to see an original Victorian Old West mansion and to 'feel' how people lived in the 1880s."
The Mueller-Schmidt House, the oldest home in Dodge City and on the National Register of Historic Places, has not gone to plastic covers or ropes. Visitors can stand where Bat Masterson danced. That is rare in any museum. George Laughead, president of the Ford County Historical Society, which curates the museum for Ford County, points out that there is no charge (donations welcomed) so families can spend a few hours enjoying a real place where real people lived. "This is not a replica," says George. "It is owned by the people of Ford County so we are open free to all of them." Contributing Resources: Subscribers may submit items in advance to:newseditor@kansasofolde.com
More Kansas Heritage Tourism Resources: See opportunities from the travel and tourism industry listed on our Opportunities page and our Rescource Links page. And check out http://www.kansashistory.us for a bazillion history and tourism related links and http://www.travelks.com for some fantastic videos. | |
| | | See our "Library and Shop" and "Era-Authentic Gardens" pages (buttons at left) for more books and digital resources on your favorite topics. | |
|