In 2009 local artist Gary Lofts and his wife, Susan, spearheaded a campaign to paint a large mural on the side of a 1907 downtown building honoring the town’s centennial. It’s a beauty and depicts the town’s history including scenes of a miner, railroad and depot, a church, a Model T, and the former school bulldog mascot.
Built shortly after WWII, this memorial now honors local veterans who served in all wars. Flags representing four branches of the military fly in front of the memorial. Arma’s V-J Day homecoming has been celebrated annually since 1946.
Take in this opportunity to visit a cooperative art gallery featuring local artists. They've gotten into the Big Kansas Road Trip theme with a new exhibit named "Kansas Road Trip." Support the arts! Thu-Fri 12-6 pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 12-4pm.
Also known as the Baxter Springs Massacre, on October 6, 1863, William Quantrill’s Confederate guerillas attacked Fort Blair in Baxter Springs. Soldiers at the fort fought off the attackers with the help of a Howitzer, but on leaving Fort Blair, the guerrillas came upon a Union wagon train led by General James Blunt. The Confederates, greatly outnumbering the Union forces, tragically massacred most of Blunt’s command. A replica of the earth and log Fort Blair is at this site, and a kiosk provides information.
Route 66, lead and zinc mining, Civil War battles, the Osage Indian tribe, and Mickey Mantle—you’ll find excellent interpretations of these and more historic events and people inside this 20,000-square-foot museum. One of the most unique displays is the world’s longest (1,100 feet) hand-carved wooden chain, carved from 1981 to 1994 by James Porter. Porter and his chain made an appearance on The Tonight Show in 1989. Continue your search for history by picking up walking/driving tour brochures—for Civil War and historic sites and for downtown historic buildings. Thu-Sat 10am-4:30pm, Sun 1-4pm.
This impressive veterans memorial at W. 13th and Park Avenue honors local veterans and the memory of all American veterans. Images of military action are superimposed on four large free-standing granite stones that represent each branch of the military.
From K-7, 6 miles west on K-102 (becomes Scammon), then ½ mile south on NW 60. No name other than Big Brutus would befit this gigantic, massive, and enormous electric coal shovel. You can see this big guy long before you get there—like a multistory building plopped onto a rural landscape. And this thing actually moved! Big Brutus in action rumbled along at .22 mph (that’s less than a quarter mile per hour) and removed the overburden (soil and rocks covering the coal seam) before smaller shovels came in and dug out the coal. One of the two largest electric coal shovels in the world still assembled, Big Brutus ran 24 hours a day from 1963 until 1974. For the full impact of this machine and the area’s strip mining history, start your tour in the visitor center museum to see displays, photos, and an informative video. You’re welcome to walk up to Big Brutus and stand in its bucket. You may also climb up five stories to the “belly” of this big boy and sit in the control seat. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a winner in the 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce contest sponsored by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Admission charge.
Chief Black Dog wasborn around 1780 and for a timehis migratory tribe’s base campwas near present Coffeyville. In 1803 his Osages blazed what is now known as the Black Dog Trail, a 200-mile passage from present Baxter Springs to present Oxford. Thousandsof Osages followed it on their semi-annual trek to hunt buffalo. Eventually, in the 20th century, the trail evolved into highways. Seventh Street was part of the trail and is designated by a historical marker north of the Historical Museum.
The two-story wooden structure just outside the fort’s entrance was built around 1864 to help Fort Scott (town and post) defend against anticipated Confederate advances. Fortunately, no attacks occurred.
Built of red brick and limestone in the Modern Eclecticism style, the 1930 Bourbon County courthouse stands with solid authority on the square at 210 S. National. Visitors are welcome to go to the third-floor courtroom (if court is not in session) to view the 1929 D.H. Overmeyer mural Justice Enthroned. A Civil War cannon, war memorials, and a GAR monument guard the front lawn. Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm.
On the west side of this 103 acre state fishing lake you'll find a good place to cast your line for channel cat and largemouth/spotted bass. Also find several fishing piers, boat ramp and a floating dock. The waterfall usually runs a short period during the spring from early April through the end of June. You'll find the waterfall on the north end of the lake, about a quarter mile from Ivory Rd. For detailed directions, click on Read More below, which takes you to Keith Stokes (Kansas Explorer #4392, Kansas Travel website.) Photo courtesy Keith Stokes.
In the early 1900s a large brick plant here produced 100,000 bricks every 10 days. The bricks cost two to four cents each, and a daily shipment filled approxi-mately a dozen rail cars. Fort Scott bricks were used in the construction of the Panama Canal and for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (nicknamed the Brickyard when its track was bricked in 1911). More than 10 miles of brick streets remain in Fort Scott. They are included in the Downtown Fort Scott National Register for Historic Places designation. https://tinyurl.com/FortScottBrickStreets
Visitors flock to see the fabled little 1951 International tow truck that inspired the Tow Mater character in the hit animated movie Cars (2006). The truck was once used to lift equipment from mine shafts. Have your picture taken next to the perky rusted truck and other vehicles that resemble the movie’s characters. Then step inside this renovated 1926 Kan-O-Tex gas station to shop for Route 66 souvenirs and see a few historic photos and memorabilia from bygone days.
The plaque on the tall cylindrical red-brick water tower reads, "Cherokee Water Works 1896." According to the city clerk, this water tower is the eighth oldest still in use in the United States.
Silver wheat shafts on the facade of this 1955 courthouse add an artistic glint, but the 1919 Seth Thomas clock in the 40-foot tower on the courthouse lawn is the real gem. Purchased as a memorial to WWI servicemen, the clock was placed in the 1889 courthouse tower. Following the demise of the old courthouse, the original clock parts were discarded, and not until 1983 were they found and reassembled. One of the clock faces is on the current courthouse; the other three are on the free-standing tower containing the clock, which bongs on the hour and half-hour.
Charles and Spruce (City Park). Posed in the middle of the park is one of only four white-bronze (cast zinc) Civil War statues in the state. Dedicated in 1907, this sentinel style soldier is more commonly seen in northern states.
Just inside the state park entrance a memorial honors not only the CCC workers who built this lake in the 1930s but also the 3.5 million men who were part of the CCC, a New Deal federal program. Recognizing the park’s history are a bronze statue of a CCC worker, a one-and-a quarter-mile memorial trail past artifacts used to build the lake, interpretive signage, and a small museum inside a unique stone structure formerly a water tower. Museum is always open.
The Ottawa architectural firm of George P. Washburn and Son designed the one-story red-brick Carnegie library (NRHP), completed in 1913 and still serving the town. Be sure to check out their story walk located at City Park and their giant chess board! Walk east across the street from the library to read the plaque commemorating Columbus as the founding place of the Long-Bell Lumber Company. Robert Alexander Long in 1875 established his first lumber yard at this site. Fifty years later Long-Bell Lumber Company was the largest lumber company in the world. Thu-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm.
The WPA built the 1930s stone structures, including the retaining wall and the interestingly designed (no longer used) swimming pool bathhouse, in City Park. You'll also find here a walking trail, two large playground areas, picnic shelters, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits, a new basketball court, a new disc golf course, and city pool.
The ball of string you see here might be the second most famous one in the state, but it claims television fame! Ed Fouts, who wound this 826-pound ball (468 miles of string!), appeared on I’ve Got a Secret in 1953. Other exhibits feature Columbus native Merle Evans (bandleader for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus), local athletes, agriculture, history, industry, and downtown businesses. A driving tour brochure of historical homes and points of interest is available here and at the chamber office, 320 E. Maple.
A black granite veterans memorial is located on the northeast corner of the courthouse lawn. Here you can find pavers with names honoring the servicemen and women from Columbus. The memorial was created by friends and family members of servicemen and women.
Built in 1922, this Modern Eclecticism structure features marble walls and staircases. Stand at the center of the first floor and look up to see the beautiful stained-glass ceiling above the third floor. A UH-1H Huey helicopter flown by a Kansas pilot is stationed on the courthouse square. Nearby are a granite wall inscribed with the names of all 777 Kansans who lost their lives in Vietnam, flags of the five military branches, a POW-MIA flag, Kansas flag, and American flag. The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Courthouse is open to the public during normal business hours, Thu-Fri 8am-4pm. NOTE: The courthouse will be open on Saturday for a tour at 10am.
Exhibits capture the area’s history of coal mining, farming, printing, and ethnic diversity. Unique artifacts include a dress worn by 1967 Miss America Debbie Barnes, 1938 aerial fire truck and 1930s steam shovel. Cow Creek Cowboy Days & Wild West Show happens on Saturday, May 7. See Events section for more information. Thu 9am-3pm, Fri 9am-2pm, Sat 9am-1pm. Photo: Amanda Minton
The 500-acre park is located on the edge of the Ozarks. In the spring, redbud trees add even more beauty to this heavily wooded area. Hiking, biking, boating, swimming, and RV and tent camping are some of the amenities you can enjoy. State park entrance charge. Cabins available. Reservations required. Located 10 miles north of Girard.
Duke Wellington, a native of Columbus, painted a huge mural featuring the history of Columbus and Kansas. Besides being a fine arts painter, he served as an art director in Hollywood from 1927-1956 at both Paramount Studios and National Screen Service, a movie poster company. He was also the author of "Theory and Practice of Poster Art, Signs of Times" published in 1934. His work is in many private collections, including Maurice Chevalier, Paris, Irving Berlin, NY & Gustav S. Eyssell, NY. The mural is inside the community building and open to the public on Thu-Fri 8am-2pm.
All kinds of fun can be found in the city park, from whimsical animals carved from logs by local chainsaw artist Ed Babcock, to playgrounds, horseshoe pits and bocce courts.
A small blue sign on the east side of town tells you that Bronson was home to the first horseshoe pitching tournament in the world! Although not the same horseshoe pits as those in the 1909 tournament, the pits in City Park at Charles and Spruce welcome you to bring your own horseshoes and play.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Three members made up the total congregation of this church when it was formed in 1859. When the 1888 church was razed, many of the bricks and materials were reused to build the present 1924 church. The auditorium, which seats 1,000, held the funeral for famed photographer and native son Gordon Parks in 2006. Church will be open 9am-4pm daily. Sunday services at 10:30am.
Oak to Third and Scott to National. Despite fires, including the most recent in 2005, and the federal urban renewal project in the 1960s that demolished 85 historic buildings, the downtown still boasts 58 contributing buildings to the historic district designation. https://tinyurl.com/FortScottHistDist
The driving tour brochure describes 46 sites and provides an excellent overview of the town, particularly of the architectural history of downtown buildings. Brochures are available at the Visitor Information Center, 231 E. Wall or visit their website and download the brochure.
The trolley guided and self-guided tours point out gravestones for U.S. Colored troops, Native American soldiers, buffalo soldiers, Confederates from the 1864 Mine Creek battle, and memorials to those who never came home from various wars. A large glacial stone marks the grave of illustrious poet Eugene Ware (1841-1911) who also was an editor, Civil War soldier, author, and founder of the first Fort Scott public library. In 1862 President Lincoln designated these grounds a national cemetery. A historic rostrum and an 1870 brick home also are within the cemetery.
Named for General Winfield Scott, the fort originally was established in 1842. Soldiers garrisoned here until 1853 to maintain peace between indigenous and relocated Indian tribes. In 1855 the government auctioned the fort structures to newly arriving settlers, and the area became the nucleus of the town of Fort Scott. During the Civil War, soldiers returned to Fort Scott and it became the supply and logistical center for the Union Army of the West. Today this restored post, administered by the National Park Service, showcases 20 historic structures with excellent exhibits inside the buildings and on the grounds. Open daily, ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. This attraction was voted as one of the top eight in the 8 Wonders of Kansas History category, sponsored by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Visitor Center open daily, 8am-5pm (summer); 8:30am-4:30pm (winter hours).
Built in the Beaux Arts style, the 1904 two-story red-brick Carnegie library (NRHP) still operates as the Fort Scott library. Thu-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm; Sat 9:30am-1:30pm.
May 4, 2003, will not be forgotten in this area. On that date a vicious tornado destroyed much of this tiny village. In the Franklin Community Park a marker relates the tornado tragedy, and a plaque on a pecan tree explains the metal still wrapped and twisted around the trunk.
Look for the Frisco caboose on the grounds at the Columbus Museum. It is one of only 13 train cars converted into a caboose. With the caboose is the Columbus Wye, a three way switch allowing trains to turn around, and the only one of its kind. The Columbus Wye, as the crossing was called, was well known by those familiar with the railway system. It was listed in every railroad exchange in the United States, showing which rail was used to reach the proper destination. The crossing, formerly located in the northern part of Columbus, was donated to the City of Columbus by the Burlington Northern Railroad. At the time, the switch was constructed, it was one of the three built; one in Hamburg, Germany, destroyed during the war, and one in Pennsylvania which was removed within a short time. The crossing in Columbus is the only one of its kind remaining.
From Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, through Fort Scott, and north to Fort Leavenworth, this byway follows the old military road established between 1838 and 1845 to connect these forts. Supporters of both the free-state and proslavery causes also used this road during our state’s territorial period. Interpretative signage located in front of the fort along Old Fort Boulevard.
Three distinct eras and architectural designs are apparent in the former Fulton School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The red-brick two-story school building was built in 1917, the stone gymnasium was a 1936 WPA project, and the brick one-story cafeteria was added in 1964. Closed as a school in 1978, the building is now a community center. Photo courtesy KSHS.org.
Fulton is located about 20 minutes north of Fort Scott along Old U.S. 69. Since 1927 traffic has crossed the Little Osage River on the sturdy Marsh rainbow single-arch bridge. In Fulton, from E. Spruce, go ½ mile north on 215th and drive over the bridge.
Fun Zone Depot is the premier center for family entertainment in Southeast Kansas! At over 10,000 square feet, step into a world of amusement - games, activities, and entertainment. From an indoor rock wall to an interactive floor projector, bounce houses and more - there is something for all ages. BKRT guests receive $1.00 off per ticket, per session. Tickets can be purchased at the door at any point during a four-hour session and in advance on the website. An admission ticket is required for each guest, per session. Children (3+) are $7.00 and adults/seniors are $5.00. Play session hours: Thu-Sat 11am-3pm; 4-8pm and Sun 12-4pm.
Amazing photos and artifacts capture the region’s mining days from 1877 to the 1920s, when lead and zinc were the heart and soul of Galena. Once you visit this museum, inside a KATY railroad depot, you’ll have a new appreciation of this town and its history.
This larger-than-life bronze piece is along the southeast edge of University Lake. It's a reproduction of an ancient Chinese sculpture made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) and was a 100th birthday gift to the University from a dignitary in China. Open the link to see a map of its location, #16.
A new attraction in Galena, this 1939 Texaco station has been restored by owner Aaron Perry and his family. You'll find Route 66 curios, artwork for the gearhead and a place to gather and share stories.
Two Ionic columns flank the front door of this 1906 building. Still serving as the Girard Public Library, it contains a collection of the Haldeman-Julius Little Blue Books. In 2002 an impressive addition was added to this historic limestone structure. While you’re here, pick up a map for a driving tour of the town’s historic sites. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library is also serving as a location for the BKRT Information Center where you can pick up copies of the BKRT guide and updated schedule. Thur 9:30am-6pm, Fri 9:30am-5pm, Sat 9am-2pm
Three buildings on site, including St. John's Episcopal Church, built in 1888, the Church has it's original stained glass windows and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. A hotbed for socialism during the mining era, Girard was the home to Julius Wayland and E. Haldeman-Julius's "Appeal to Reason", then the largest socialist periodical in the country. Haldeman-Julius also created the Little Blue Books, small paperback books that made literature available to the masses at a cheap price - a venture that landed him on the FBI's "enemies list." Learn more about this fascinating history at this unique museum. A 12-block historical tour is offered daily at 1:30pm and expected to last 45 minutes. Thu-Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm.
In 1868 Dr. Charles Strong killed a deer while hunting in this area. At the spot the deer fell, Strong drove a stake into the ground and announced that he would build a town on this site. A marker beside a deer statue on the town square at Prairie and Summit describes this unusual town beginning.
From 23rd, 1½ miles south on U.S. 69, then ½ mile west on Indian. Look for a black vertical stone in the cemetery’s north end (section 7) by the road. On either side of the stone is a Parks’ poem, “Homecoming” and “A Sign by the Road.” His flat gray gravestone is behind this marker.
Gordon Parks, born in Fort Scott in 1912, was a pioneer for blacks in the fields of photography, filmmaking, and writing. His photos depicting poverty and racism, among other subjects, were potent pictures in Life magazine for 20 years. Impressive exhibits and artifacts are on display to help you know Parks and the topics he cared about. See his writing desk, a film camera and tripod, and some of his iconic photographs including those of the Tuskegee Airmen, Muhammad Ali, and American Gothic. The museum will be open extra hours for BKRT visitors. Gordon Parks was voted as one of the top eight in the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art category, sponsored by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Thu-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 10am-4pm.
Recently renovated downtown bowling alley hopping with 8-lanes of action and a delicious snack bar and an exciting arcade. We offer leagues, bowling packages, birthday parties, and pro shop services. Thu 4-10pm, Fri 4-11:45pm, Sat 9am-11:45pm
In 1910 W.C. Gunn donated the land for Gunn Park and some 20 years later the WPA added the main lake and stone shelter houses and walls. Newer additions include an 18-hole disc golf course, numerous biking and hiking trails, a dog park, and a second lake stocked with trout.
For years Gunn Park had its own caretaker who lived on site with his family. In 1927 caretaker E.V. Kelley built two doll houses for his young daughters Nadine and Jenny. Quite unique, they are more like miniature houses, built outdoors and made of stone. In 2016 the local Kiwanis Club restored and rebuilt the wee buildings, and as you enter Gunn Park you’ll see them to the south. The abandoned caretaker’s home is nearby.
From K-7, 2 miles west on K-102, then ¼ mile south on 20. Only 4 miles from Big Brutus the four state regions premier railroad museum. Includes two restored depots, steam locomotive, diesel locomotives, freight, caboose and passenger cars. Also a large museum building with many displays. Self guided walking tour available at all times. Guided tours on request. Picnic area available. No admission fee but donations are appreciated.
A must stop for anyone interested in rural one-room schools. The historic 1869 Cato Schoolhouse is the first school in Crawford County and located in Cato, the first community in Crawford County. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On U.S. Highway 69 between Ft. Scott and Pittsburg, turn west on 720 Avenue, one mile north of the Arcadia turn-off (or one mile south of the Bourbon County line). Go west for one mile, then turn north for 1/2 mile and then left one mile to Cato.
Girard’s history awaits you on this tour, which includes the 1887 home (NRHP) of publisher J.A. Wayland (721 Summit); the Haldeman-Julius House (RHKP; 310 N. Sinnett), home of the Little Blue Books publishers; the J.T. and Anna Leonard Home (NRHP; 211 N. Summit), the largest home ever built in Girard in a stunning Queen Anne style; the J.E. Raymond House (NRHP; 301 S. Osage), identifiable by its “onion dome”; and the home of Henry Laurens Call (608 N. Summit). Call was a Socialist lawyer, author, and lecturer, and in 1908 he built the first airplane west of the Mississippi. Call named it the Mayfly because “it may fly!” But it didn’t. A 19-site driving tour brochure is available at the front desk of the public library. Library hours are Thu 9:30am-6pm, Fri 9:30am-5pm, Sat 9am-2pm.
Hosey Hill Cemetery is a fascinating cemetery filled with uncommon gravestones, Italian family names that reflect the heritage of the area, beautiful sculptures— and a grand stone elephant statue atop Inman E. Vandry’s (1887- 1928) gravestone. A palpable quietness is felt in this rural setting. From Dreher, 1¾ miles west on Main.
In the block east of the Miners’ Memorial the handsome brick Pritchett Pavilion graces the site where the old Europe Hotel and Frisco depot once stood. In the late 1800s and early 1900s these facilities received new immigrant families who came to work in the coal fields. Plaques on the pavilion are inscribed with stories of these families and the difference they have made in the area. A nearby mural depicts the old hotel and depot.
Franklin is on the Kansas Frontier Military Historic Byway (travelks.com/ksbyways) but also is on the route of the Jefferson Highway, the first transcontinental road to traverse North America north to south. The Jefferson Highway Association was founded in 1915. Learn more about the historic highway at https://jeffersonhighway.org/Map
"The Jefferson Highway, a north-south highway that stretches from Canada to New Orleans, was originally built as a guided road for automobile travelers from 1915 to 1925. The highway is named after the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, for his role in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase." The Lord’s Diner currently operates the former Jefferson Highway Garage as a nonprofit soup kitchen, but decades ago, it was a garage along Jefferson Highway. The old garage was located in one of the last buildings along the route to have its original Jefferson Highway signage. In 2020, a Jefferson Highway Association marker was put on display at the location. Another marker will be placed in Lincoln Park, 813 Memorial Dr., near the band shell where a Jefferson Highway historic campsite was located. Photo credit: Joplin Globe
The town library has the appearance of a courthouse because in 1872 it was intended to be one. It was never used for that purpose, but it was a city hall and a college before Peter Johnston donated it to the city in 1905 for its library. It still serves as the town library. Thu-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-12pm.
Of the 2,448 miles of the famous Route 66, 13.25 miles pass through Kansas across the southeast corner of Cherokee County. It may be a short stretch but it has plenty of great explorer attractions--a charming narrow road, rainbow arch bridge, throwback market, a WPA park with a shallow wading creek and three delightful towns.
Some say it’s like being in the Ozarks! Opened in 2003, Kansas Rocks Recreation Park provides trails for mountain bikers, hikers, utility vehicles, and four-wheel-drive vehicles (5 mph speed limit). As you might expect, you’ll come across plenty of rocks! What you might not expect is the 200-foot elevation change in these 400 acres. Kanrocks, as the park is known, is a wonderful getaway to enjoy the outdoors in a beautiful rocky terrain. Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 8am-5pm. Admission charge.
From Military, 5 blocks west on 3rd, then 3 miles north on Willow. Between the Willow Creek bridge and the Marsh rainbow single-arch Brush Creek bridge is a stretch of Route 66 that retains many remnants from its original construction—narrow road (only 25 feet wide), unpaved shoulders, box culverts, and the tree-lined roadsides. Drive this back route slowly and soak it in. It’s subtly sublime. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Stop by and see the impressive, state-of-the-art LaRoche Baseball Complex. The Dave Regan Stadium inside the LaRoche Baseball Complex features 500 stadium seats, 500 bleacher seats, and room for 2500 on the grassy berms. The complex was funded by major league baseball star, Adam LaRoche, who graduated from high school in Fort Scott. "In the majors, LaRoche played for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburg Pirates, Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks before joining the Nationals in 2011. He had his best season in 2012, winning a Gold Glove and hitting 33 home runs with 100 RBIs in leading Washington to its first National League East Division title."
Kids love Lincoln Park and you'll understand why when you see its aquatic center, the miniature train, miniature golf course, fishing pond, playgrounds and Kiddieland, an amusement park for small children. You'll also find Bocce, basketball and tennis courts, nine hole disc golf, fishing, golf course, RV Park and shelter houses. Originally a gathering place for Civil War veterans, Lincoln Park was sold to the city in 1906. The auditorium opened in 1911, a large porch with columns originally wrapped its outside. Now known as Lincoln Center, concerts and other activities have treated locals and visitors for generations.
The sidewalk runs parallel to U.S. 69 Business from the south end of Franklin to E. Hector in Arma. When Franklin High School closed in the late 1920s, children had to walk to school in Arma. To provide safe passage, in 1937 the WPA finished a one-and-three-quarter-mile sidewalk between the two towns. The Guinness Book of World Records recorded this sidewalk as the longest walkway connecting two towns. Instead of leading you to school, today this long sidewalk invites you to take a leisurely stroll, skip, turn cartwheels, play hopscotch, push a baby stroller, pull a wagon, ride a bike, jog, walk your dog, and kick up your heels. Much more fun than school. One of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Custom finalists and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This state-of-the-art exhibition space recognizes unsung heroes who stood up for others, often at great risk to themselves. Their compelling stories are told through inter- active kiosks and displays. Two of these brave heroes are Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker who rescued more than 2,500 Jewish children during WWII; and Ken Reinhardt, who befriended the first black students to attend his high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. Additional heroes are recognized every year. The center is named for international philanthropist and education supporter Lowell Milken. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 10am-4pm.
Come hear the stories of how Pixar chose the sites in southeast Kansas that brought inspiration to the popular movie "Cars." You'll hear from either Dean "Crazy Legs" Walker or Melba "the Mouth" from "4 Women on the Route." They are both highly enjoyable people who will leave you with a memorable experience of your time here. Enjoy the stories daily between 10am-4pm. Take pictures with several of the movie characters like Luigi, Lightening McQueen, the Sheriff and more. Stories told daily 10am-4pm and photos can be taken anytime of the day or night.
UPDATE: Due to building repairs, the museum is unable to open to the public. Museum volunteers have created signs with photos and historic information that can be viewed at the community walking track near 5th and Brunetti. (Parking is on the west end of the old McCune school – 5th and Brunetti Drive). The McCune Museum holds great heritage of the farming community and surrounding area. McCune is also the home of two Olympian Basketball athletes, the Kelley Brothers. Exhibits include an interior of a school house, a farm house, and barn and an amazing Roy Roger's exhibit. Please stop in when building repairs are done.
From K-7 in Cherokee, 5 miles west on U.S. 400, 2 miles north on 100, 2 miles east on 520, then 2 miles south on 120 and you’re back to U.S. 400. You leave the blacktop at your first turn (north on 100) to drive through part of the Mined Land Wildlife Area—land once devastated in the aftermath of strip mining is now lush with woodlands, grasslands, and abundant water. One mile east on 520 you’ll cross Limestone Creek on the Hudgeon Bridge (NRHP), a picturesque 1923 bridge with lovely railings and turned balusters. (GPS for bridge location: 37.368687, -94.899135)
From the 1920s to 1974, only 2,000 acres of this 13,000-acre property were not surface mined. Now those scarred tracts of land, once stripped of overburden, have evolved into woodlands and grasslands that wind around a thousand deep pit lakes perfect for birding, canoeing or kayaking, or fishing. With more than 80 boat ramps, these lakes, both beautiful and eerie, are easy to access. Maps of the lakes are available at Big Brutus and from the Mined Land Wildlife Area office at 7545 NW Belleview (from Big Brutus, ½ mile south on NW 60, 1 mile west on Coalfield, 2 miles south on NW 70, then ¾ mile west on Belleview). Cabins available. Reservations required.
On this site, prior to the 2003 tornado, stood a community hall where the Amazon Army (a women’s protest group supporting striking miners) started its march in 1921. A new metal building now occupies the spot and serves as the Miners Hall Museum. From a pickax to a log sheet, mining and miner artifacts portray this cultural history. Displays feature life in the mines, social and home life, health and safety, and more. Mon-Sat 10am - 4pm.
A beautifully landscaped area features a larger-than life bronze statue of miner John Christian Ott and large polished granite monuments inscribed with names of miners who worked in the Weir-Pittsburg coal fields. Informational kiosks along a sidewalk tell more about the life of a coal miner.
Named the National Avenue Bridge and painted bright rust orange, the 1933 Marsh rainbow single-arch bridge stands out as it spans the Marmaton River. From 1st, ½ mile north on National. Learn more about Marsh Arch bridges in Kansas by clicking on Read More below.
The ambience of this sweet reminder of the old Route 66 days probably hasn’t changed much since it opened as Leo Williams Grocery in the 1920s. It’s one of the most nostalgic stops in the state, where you can order a sandwich at the meat counter, buy Wonder Bread or Jello in the old-fashioned market, or pull an ice-cold pop out of an original Coca Cola cooler. Memorabilia of the “Mother Road” (Route 66) line the shelves and are stacked up to the pressed-tin ceiling, and an adjoining room is packed with every imaginable souvenir bearing the name Route 66. The Old Riverton Store is an explorer’s haven! Thu-Sat 8:30am-7pm, Sun 12-6pm.
Crawford County communities have a wide variety of outdoor murals, sculptures and monuments to discover. Some are easy to find and other's you might have to hunt down, but that's part of the fun. Use the website link to decide which ones you'd like to see.
Images of mining, cowtown days, Osage Indians, Route 66, the famous wooden chain, and more town history compose this unusually designed mural. It was created in 1995 by Paula Collins of Denton, Texas. Find it on the south side of the American Bank.
Fresh spaghetti sauce, meatballs, chili without beans, homemade Italian sausage, fresh-cut meats, Frontenac bakery bread (8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce), and great selections of grated cheese, olive oil, and dry noodles—you’ll find these and more at Pallucca’s, which dates to 1909. Attilio Pallucca started his store as an Italian American cooperative, trading on credit with the miners. Owned by the Pallucca family until 2013, new owners Ethan and Alyssa Edwards continue the market’s century-old traditions. Try their lunch specials 11:30am-1pm.
Named for a beloved local historian, the park features a gazebo and a granite monument honoring the mining history of Galena and the Will Rogers Highway (Route 66.) A federal weigh station that inspected commercial vehicles on Route 66 once stood on this spot.
Pine Lawn Cemetery was established circa 1869 by the Jewish burial society as the interment grounds for the Jewish community that thrived in Fort Scott in the 1880s and 1890s. From E. Wall, 3 miles south on U.S. 69/K-7, ½ mile west on Ironwood, then ¼ mile south on 215th. Photo courtesy Diana Staresinic-Deane, read Diana's blog: https://tinyurl.com/53r2rsa3
Dozens of mausoleums adorned with columns, peaked roofs, and arches, dominate the landscape at Mount Olive Cemetery, 402 E. Quincy, and at Highland Park Cemetery, Broadway and Centennial, south of the university.
Built in 1923 and influenced by the King Tut craze at the time, Memorial Auditorium is now a state-of-the-art venue for the performing arts and convention center. You are invited to stop in to see its local art in the lobby gallery.
The community of Pittsburg offers a wide variety of parks and you'll find a complete list by clicking on the Read More link below. There are parks just for mountain biking enthusiasts, walking/biking trails, a park with special water features, pickle ball courts, sensory garden, skate park, sand volleyball, restrooms and much more.
Because library funds provided by Andrew Carnegie (who was anti-union) angered area miners, Carnegie’s money was accepted but his name was omitted from the library’s exterior. This 1912 structure, now the Pittsburg Public Library, is one of the few Carnegie libraries in the country built with elements of Art Nouveau and the Prairie School style. The library is also known for several pieces of art including a landscape by Birger Sandzén, the Marjorie Schick exhibit, and the Ella Buchanan exhibit. Buchanan was the first director of Pittsburg's library and went on to gain international notoriety as a talented sculptor and a leader in the women's suffrage movement. Be sure to check out the 'Alice in Wonderland' painting in the children's section." Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library is also serving as a location for the BKRT Information Center where you can pick up copies of the BKRT guide and updated schedule. Thu 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-5pm.
Pittsburg State University is the only college in the nation to have a gorilla as its mascot. A 1965 bronze Gus Gorilla, designed by Larry Wooster, stands on the south side of the Overman Student Center, 302 E. Cleveland. A new life-sized, one-ton bronze gorilla created by Tom Corbin was installed on the east side of Carnie Smith Stadium, 1705 S. Joplin.
You’ll feel a tug at your emotions as you walk the entryways lined with flags of the 50 states and the official seals of the five military branches. Dedicated in 2004, this memorial amphitheater features a half-sized replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica was part of the Moving Wall program that brought The Wall to those who couldn’t travel to the nation’s capital. Among other features, the amphitheater contains an eternal flame and a reflecting pool.
Moved from the post office to the community building, the bas-relief is a sand sculpture entitled "R.F.D." and produced by Waylande Gregory in 1940. He was considered one of the most innovative and prolific American art-deco ceramics sculptors of the early 20th century. Fun fact - Gregory's invention of high-fired vitreous ceramics which made giant outdoor ceramics possible led him to later work with NASA in developing the heat-resisting ceramic shield to coat space craft. Section Art was a way to keep artists employed during the depression and were paid by the federal government to decorate public buildings, like post offices. Section Art is one of the finalists in the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art category. Learn more at www.8wonders.org.
"Border Gateways", a 1937 oil on canvas by Oscar E. Berninghaus, depicts pioneers in covered wagons coming into the newly established Kansas Territory in 1854. This New Deal (Depression era) Section artwork can be viewed by entering the Post Office lobby and take the elevator to 2nd floor. Section Art was a finalist for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art contest. Click on Read More to learn more!
From the roundabout at 400/66, 1.5 miles west on Route 66/Beasley. Drive or walk over this 1923 beauty to appreciate the one-and-only surviving concrete Marsh arch single-span bridge on the entire Route 66. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Brush Creek Bridge.
This 1870 red brick home is impressive with a central cupola topping the Italianate structure. It also features walkout windows and ornamental porch posts and arches. Built for business entrepreneur Rial Niles and his wife, Mary, the house has served as a social club, a church meeting place, and a residence. The stoutly built structure has survived two tornadoes, one in 1895 and more recently in 2014. It is currently undergoing restoration by the owner. Read more about the history @rialanileshouse. Drive by only.
The 50 acre Rock Creek Lake is an integral part of the city and rural water reserve system. Located on the Marmaton River, and surrounded by deep woods, Rock Creek serves as a habitat for wildlife as well as a quiet haven for fishermen, canoeists and campers. Discover the Rock Creek Falls during rain season! Drive west on 18th Street. The street name will change to Kansas Road and after an unpaved stretch, will turn south becoming 195th Street, which runs along the east side of Rock Creek Lake. Pull into the park at the north end of Rock Creek Lake and follow the narrow gravel road across the dam to the turn around next to the falls.
From U.S. 400 roundabout,150 yards west on Route 66/Beasley. Get your kicks on Route 66 at the kiosks incorporating several well-designed, illustrated panels that portray area history and area attractions. Stopping here will help you uncover every bit of adventure along this historic route! You'll also see a Route 66 sculpture created by the Riverton High School FFA Club and erected in 2018. Learn more about their project at https://tinyurl.com/route66sculpture.
A colorful outdoor Route 66 Postcard mural dresses up the side of the building at Main and 7th. A little pocket park in front of the mural is a spiffy place to take a selfie.
You might guess from its iconic cottage style that this visitor center had a previous life as a Phillips 66 gas station. Built in 1930, it saw years of activity from Route 66 travelers. It now represents the past and is a sweet stop.
The 1895 two-story Queen Anne home was originally the residence of prominent businessman Edgar Backus Schermerhorn, who donated the land for the park bearing his name. The house appears to have fallen on hard times, but it is still an impressive sight. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From 7th, 2¼ miles south on Main/K-26. Just before Shoal Creek Bridge, turn east into the park. The arching entrance gate, stone terraces, and retaining walls, built by the WPA in the early 1930s, are fascinating features and transport you back to an earlier time. Wade or take a refreshing dip in the cool shallow waters of the spring-fed Shoal Creek, just as Route 66 travelers have done since the 1920s. Follow the drive to the parking lot behind the superintendent’s house to find a wooded trail that leads you past limestone bluffs covered with lush Ozark vegetation and back to Schermerhorn Cave. Legend says the cave was a hideout for Jesse James. The spring that flows from the cave is home to the dark-sided salamander, the cave salamander, and the gray-bellied salamander, all of which are on the Kansas endangered species list.
"The story of the Soffietti-Boccia Grocery Store is one that represents the wider history of the Cherokee-Crawford coal field. In this store, which was active between circa 1915 and 1982, the Soffietti and Boccia families not only provided groceries, hardware, cloth, and feed, they provided a welcome contrast to the “company stores” owned by the various coal companies dominating the region. Where company stores exploited the miner, the owners of the Soffietti-Boccia Store went out of their way to support their customers and neighbors. This customer base was comprised mostly of Eastern and Mediterranean European immigrants who arrived in Cherokee County seeking a better life than the ones they left in Europe." The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a drive by only.
From Military, 2 miles west on 12th/U.S. 166. Designated as an official Soldiers’ Lot by the National Cemetery Administration, it is the final resting place for those killed in the 1863 Battle of Baxter Springs and other area engagements. The tall monument of a soldier with his hand over his rifle muzzle is the cemetery’s centerpiece. The names of those who died are inscribed on it, and the men are buried in a common grave. A fence surrounding the plot is formed with cannon barrels protruding from the ground. Simple white gravestones for veterans from all wars flank the monument.
Inside the Public Library, Wayne Wildcat’s colorful mural illustrates the 1921 Pittsburg event involving 6,000 women marching in protest of mining conditions and in support of striking miners. The New York Times dubbed these courageous women the Army Amazons, and their march became a turning point in labor history. Thu 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-5pm.
On top of the elaborate WPA stone terraces, the handsome and modern nature center is in an excellent setting to help you discover the intricacies of Ozark Plateau flora and fauna. Watch small, living animals, use interactive displays to learn more about the threatened and endangered species that call this area home, and step out onto the wraparound deck to spot birds and other wildlife. A large collection of American Indian artifacts is also on display. Free admission. Thu-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm.
For a view of the lovely Spring River, from Route 66, travel 1 mile east on E. 12th to Riverside Park.
From Summit in Girard, 8 miles west on K-47. The story of this historic site is an amazing one, beginning with a Catholic priest caught in a terrible storm. Hiding under his horse’s saddle, he prayed for survival, promising to build a church on the site if his life was spared. He survived and in 1871 he built the church. When a second storm destroyed the wooden church, parishioners built a stone structure in 1881, which was used until a much larger church was completed in 1907. But the forces of nature continued to plague Greenbush, and in 1982 lightning struck St. Aloysius Church and destroyed it. Today its grand stone ruins remain as a haunting piece of Greenbush history. A steadfast group of parishioners has kept alive the story of St. Aloysius and has built a pavilion nearby and moved a one-room schoolhouse to the site.
While in Scammon, stop at the 1907 red-brick St. Bridget Church to see its original stainedglass windows. Each one is an artistic depiction of a different Bible story. Thu 3-6pm, Fri-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 8:30am Mass
From U.S. 69 just south of Franklin, 4½ miles east on 620, 3 miles north on 270 to Mulberry, continue 6 miles north on 270 to Arcadia, then 4 miles west on Arcadia (becomes 710) to U.S. 69. Along the way you’ll pass many strip pits, signs, and other vestiges of old coal mining camps. Many of these pits are from the 1930s, when massive coal shovels rippedinto the earth (some to a depth of 100 feet) leaving barren land and piles of gob (discarded coal waste) in their wake. But now you’ll see strip pits in their restored glory, brimming with water in a new wooded environment that attracts birds, wildlife, hunters, and fishermen.
Take a seat on a bench as you admire the detail on the larger-than-life monument to Thomas J. Losey (1846-1936), a member of the 14th Kansas Cavalry during the Civil War. The memorial features a statue of Losey dressed in uniform with a sword on his belt and holding a rifle. A tree theme runs through the elaborate Losey monument extending to the benches and chairs that surround the family plot. T.J. lived to age 89, but his family died young—wife Flora Bell at age 47 and their two daughters as young children. The cut-off branches on the sculpted tree stump symbolize life cut short.
The fall of 1968 in Fort Scott, Kansas, marked a historical time when the first major Hollywood motion picture was directed by a black film director, Kansas’ native son, Gordon Parks. The Learning Tree, released in 1969, is based on a semi-autobiographical novel that Gordon Parks wrote in 1963. Several of the scenes were filmed on location in and around Fort Scott and Mound City. Hundreds of people from both Fort Scott and Mound City area were a part of the film as extras, with a few having speaking roles in the film. The Learning Tree Trail is a series of signs located at the different scene locations where the filming of The Learning Tree took place. The signs will also include QR codes along with a virtual tour of the identified scene locations of the film. Click on the Read More link for more information.
This all-faiths chapel built in the Country English Gothic style is peaceful and picturesque, tucked among trees on a spot that overlooks the university lake. The charming stone building is accented with a multicolor slate roof and a three-bell spire topped with a cross. Local philanthropist Bess Timmons funded the building of this church in 1966.
From Baxter Springs, go 5 miles east on 166/400, turn right (south) and continue on U.S. 400 for 2 miles to a roundabout, 600 feet west on Downstream, then 1,000 feet south on an unnamed gravel road. At the dead end you’ll come to an uncommon stone obelisk monument. Built in 1938 by the National Youth Administration, the marker designates the junction of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The original stone marker endures, but unfortunately other tri-state signs have been stolen.
The trolley driver doubles as guide offering an informative 50-minute tour around town in an old-fashioned trolley. You’ll learn about the national cemetery, “painted ladies,” the horse race track, Mark Twain’s secretary’s studio, Pill Hill, and all sorts of intriguing Fort Scott history. It’s a marvelous starting point for your Fort Scott explorations. $6 for adults; $4 for kids (12 & Under); Free for kids under 3. Find the trolley at the Fort Scott Visitor Information Center. Thu-Fri 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm; Sat 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm; Sun 1pm, 2pm.
Vinedo Del Alamo is the first winery in the world to bottle Arandell grapes, from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, without the use of other blends and varieties. We have been actively growing and harvesting grapes since 2011. Take a relaxing self guided tour of the vineyard which will be in full bloom. The winery is an actual working farm that includes camping, wine tastings and much more! A free tasting with the purchase of one bottle of wine.
No longer operating, the little restored Texaco station on W. Main creates a nostalgic memory with its simple 1920s design, gas pumps, free-standing Texaco sign and pole, and large Coca Cola button sign.
Although taller, the brick cylindrical water tower at Weir is a near twin of the tower in Cherokee. Unlike Cherokee’s 1896 structure, the 1889 Weir tower is no longer in use.
In Frontenac, from Parkview/U.S. 69, ½ mile west on McKay. You’ll find more than four miles of walking trails in this wooded area, which is picturesque during the fall and shady during the hot summer.
