“Can everyone hear me in the back?”

Ok you wonderful readers…I am on a roll.

In my last post, several of you said you had never been to New Mexico and perhaps some of you never will go and that is ok.  New Mexico has a lot of history and beautiful sites such as Carlsbad Caverns, Native American dwellings and is the home of the Top Secret, Manhattan Project, the program that developed the first nuclear weapon. For those who have been there, The Land of Enchantment covers mountains, deserts and the annual International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta…just to name a few of the many sites to see.

Fortunately, the Captain and I  have been to all 50 of these United States and God has created beautiful sites in each and every state. 

Honest Disclosure here: I have certainly NOT visited every beautiful site in every single state….and I am sure there are many places in your state that you may feel has been overlooked by social media, so please feel free to list it in the comments below.

So if you are all ready, keep your arms and legs inside at all times as we go on a short and sweet tour of Kansas.  Can everyone hear me in the back?

So to start out, you know I am from Kansas, born and raised in Salina, Kansas to be exact, Population about 40,000.  Kansas is known as the Sunflower State and is also called the Bread Basket of America because of it’s wheat fields.  We have milo fields, corn fields and soybeans and of course, wild native sunflowers. We have flatlands, flint hills, limestone, chalk and salt mines.  Kansas is also known as Tornado Alley, and during the Civil War,… ‘Bleeding Kansas’ and ‘Kansas Jayhawkers’ became monikers.  Here is a little known fact…The geographic center of the contiguous 48 lower states is located near Lebanon, Kansas (population 183) (39°50′N 98°35′W), about 2.5 miles northwest of the town, as determined by a 1918 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.

There are museums in Kansas, however, many are small buildings in nondescript towns, where they may or may not have a small cafe and/or filling station.  Not to take away from the work involved with setting up a museum, but for me personally, I am usually left with the thought…”Is that all there is?” But let’s keep moving, I have lots to show you on this tour.

OK, There is the Cosmosphere International Science & Space Museum in Hutchinson, KS (population 39,000) which for the aviation enthusiast like the Captain, one might find  several hours of looking at a full-scale replica of the space shuttle Endeavour or the Apollo 13 command module and Mercury capsule very interesting.  While we are discussing astronauts, there are 4 from Kansas.  Steve Hawley, Ottawa, KS. (population 12,000) He flew on 5 space shuttle missions including the STS-31 which deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. Joe Engle, Chapman, KS. (population 1300) He was commander of STS-2 and STS-51-1.  Ronald Evans, Topeka, KS, (population 125,000) He was the Command module pilot for Apollo 17, America’s final manned lunar landing of the 20th century.  Nick Hague, Belleville, KS. (population 1900) He completed multiple space missions including extended stays on the International Space Station.  

Or there is Rock City consisting of some large perfectly round rocks in a pasture near Minneapolis, KS. (population 2000)

Speaking of rocks,  there is a very, very small rock fort with the name of Coronado Heights near Lindsborg, Ks, (population 3700)….(which ‘legend’ has it that the Spanish Conquistador Coronado, visited while searching for gold). …He did not find any.

Then there is Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, KS. (population 2700) which consists of a few ‘newly’ made tombstones in a makeshift cemetery with funny quotes next to famous cowboys’ names, along with western gun shoot-outs to entertain the tourists.  (I have not been there in years, but I assume it is a little more developed than the above photo.) Of course, the outlaws are not buried there.  One must go to Tombstone, AZ for that viewing.

Liberal, KS (population 18,000) restored a 1907 farmhouse to resemble Dorothy’s house from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ movie. 

Amelia Earhart Air Museum in Atchinson, KS (population 10,000) is another rather small building with a few interesting mementos.

Probably, one of the most prominent cities is Abilene, KS, which was home to the 34th President of the U.S,, Dwight D. Eisenhower.  This little town has a population of about 6500 and is about 30 miles from my hometown of Salina.  There is also a lovely museum, and another wild west attraction which also features a replica of ‘Old Abilene Town’.   (There are gunfights simulating Wild Bill Hickok after his poker game with a winning hand of a full house…Aces over eights….and the gunfight that resulted in his death…AKA the Dead Man’s Hand.)Monument Rocks near Oakley, KS (population 2000) is impressive with chalk/limestone cliff formations, some as high as 70 feet.

And in the same part of western Kansas is Little Jerusalem Badlands, named because of a resemblance to a walled town, like Jerusalem in Israel.

And honorable mention goes to Cawker City, KS (population 444) which houses the worlds largest ball of twine (14 tons) sitting under a pergola on a side street.

Of course these museums and attractions are nothing in comparison to the Smithsonian.  But that is my Kansas….and as I have said before…’is that all there is?” 

Please don’t get me wrong…I do love my home state, but it does not have a Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, or Yellowstone Park….unless one can use our call to fame as a mention in a Chevy Chase movie (hence the large ball of twine in above photo.  Or references to Kansas tornados and Dorothy.  We do have beautiful prairies that are now being protected….

and beautiful Rainbows, Sunrises and Sunsets.  The above photo is a farmer with his combine cutting his wheat harvest.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the college in Lawrence, KS, (population 96,000) home of the Kansas Jayhawk football and basketball teams.  Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Or the Kansas City Royals Baseball Team and of course the Kansas City Chiefs football team.  (Actually, the last two teams are in Kansas City, MO,(population 523,000) but are building new stadiums in Kansas City, KS.) (population 158,000) These two cities are actually one big city with only a river to separate them.

If you have any questions, I’ll be glad to answer them as you exit this tour. Please watch your step….and thank you for spending your time with me.

Blessings Always

 

Genesis 1:1-2.  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”