Byways of Kansas Byways of Kansas 10
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10 BYWAYS OF KANSAS BYWAYS OF KANSAS Expand your horizons. Like apple pie and baseball, there’s something very American Byways. In addition to the breathtaking surroundings, you’ll about hitting the road and taking in the scenery. It’s a genuine enjoy an abundance of activities and a variety of incredible sense of freedom as you meander through the beautiful terrain, wildlife and living styles. This book offers a glimpse landscapes, the historic settings, the man-made panoramas into each of our unique byways, along with maps and and more. Each byway tells a story, and the stories in Kansas destinations to experience along the way. We look forward to are as fascinating as they come. Kansas is home to 10 byways, seeing you on the road! two of which are officially designated National Scenic 1 Flint Across the Grassland Sea With its sweeping grasses and tawny limestone bluffs, the Flint Hills just might be the most famed landscape in Kansas. It’s certainly the most revered, as the area Hills represents the largest remaining tract of tallgrass prairie in North America. Kaw Mission State Historic Site – Council Grove 70 The Kaw Mission reveals the story of a building that served as home and 177 school to 30 Kaw boys from 1851 to 1854. It’s also a tribute to the Kaw (or Kansa) Indians, who gave our state its name. They lived in the Neosho Valley MORRIS when, despite an impassioned plea by Chief Allegawaho, the U.S. government relocated the Kaw to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). Council Grove 56 77 Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Strong City – Strong City Cottonwood Falls The 10,984-acre reserve is an amazing combination of unspoiled prairie 50 and rare wildflowers. Discover more than 400 species of plants, 40 Matfield Green species of grasses, 200 species of birds, 30 types of mammals, plus CHASE 35 reptiles and amphibians. BUTLER Cassoday SCE N I C PLACE S P O I N T S OF IN TERES T F E S TIVA L S & EVEN T S t t Cassoday Bike Run, Cassoday (March thru November) t Cottonwood River Bridge, Cottonwood Falls Chase County Courthouse, Cottonwood Falls t t Prairie Fire Festival, Cottonwood Falls (April) t Schrumpf Hill Overlook, Cottonwood Falls Chase County Historical Museum, Cottonwood Falls t t Symphony in the Flint Hills (June) t Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park, Council Grove Hays House 1857 Restaurant & Tavern, Council Grove t t Washunga Days, Council Grove (June) t Guardian of the Grove, Council Grove Madonna on the Trail, Council Grove t t Flint Hills Rodeo, Strong City (June) t Neosho River Walk, Council Grove Pioneer Bluffs Historic District, Matfield Green 2 Flint Hills National Scenic Byway 1 F LI N T HILL S he endless vistas have remained unchanged for point of the byway. Explore the Kaw Mission State Historic T thousands of years, and a variety of people, plants Site, Council Oak and the Old Cowboy Jail. Further south and wildlife have called the Flint Hills home. The Plains is the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and its limestone Indians once lived here and used the chert (flint) they found mansion, Fox Creek Schoolhouse and an enormous three- for tools and weapons. These days, residents of the Flint story barn. Down in Cottonwood Falls you’ll find the Hills include red-tailed hawks, cotton-tailed rabbits, fox, Chase County Courthouse, two museums and the historic coyote and even the occasional massasauga rattlesnake. Cottonwood River Bridge. History abounds in Council Grove – the northernmost F E S TIVA L S & EVEN T S W ILDFL OWERS Cobaea Beardtongue Carolina Anemone Blue Wild Indigo Penstemon cobaea May-June Anemone caroliniana April-May Baptisia australis May-June ksbyways.org 3 Frontier Marching Through History 2 The Frontier Military Historic Byway is a fascinating journey through pre-Civil War era history. The byway extends roughly 167 miles, tying Fort Leavenworth in the north with Military Baxter Springs in the south at the Oklahoma border. Fort Leavenworth – Leavenworth Established in 1827, Fort Leavenworth is the oldest fort in continuous operation west of Leavenworth Fort Leavenworth the Mississippi River. It was originally opened to protect fur trade, safeguard commerce Lansing and maintain peace among the inhabitants. Today, you can see a host of interesting WYANDOTTE LEAVENWORTH 5 things, including the Buffalo Soldier Monument – a tribute to the 9th and 10th Cavalry Kansas City of Black Soldiers and the Permanent Indian Frontier. Merriam 70 Lenexa Overland Park Olathe JOHNSON 35 Louisburg Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site MIAMI Paola – Pleasanton 69 Walk the battlefield and learn more about the events that took place in 1864. Prairie loop LINN La Cygne and timber loop trails are filled with informative signage, and a visitor center features displays on the Battle at Mine Creek, the Price Campaign of 1864 and other aspects of Pleasanton the Civil War. BOURBON Fort Scott Arcadia CRAWFORD Arma SCE N I C PLACE S P O I N T S OF IN TERES T F E S TIVA L S & EVEN T S Pittsburg t Mined Land Wildlife Area, t Frontier Army Museum, Fort Leavenworth t Little Balkans Days, Pittsburg (August) Cherokee & Crawford Counties t Fort Scott National Historic Site, t Frontier Days, Fort Scott (September) t Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Fort Scott CHEROKEE t Spinach Festival, Lenexa (September) Area, La Cygne t Baxter Springs Heritage Center, t Cider Fest, Louisburg (September/October) Baxter Springs t Ernie Miller Nature Center, Olathe Baxter Springs t t Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Wild West Show & Bullwhacker t Overland Park Arboretum, State Historic Site, Olathe Days, Olathe (September) Overland Park t Pittsburg State University Veterans t Hillsdale Lake, Paola Memorial Amphitheatre, Pittsburg 4 Frontier Military Historic Byway 2 Marching Through History F R ON TIER MILIT A R Y rive along the byway, and you’ll retrace the old You’ll encounter a number of important historic and D military trail used by the Army to transport cultural attractions along the way, including Fort Blair in troops and supplies between the frontier forts. The forts Baxter Springs, Merriam Historic Plaza, the Cato School in themselves tell the stories of early military development to Arcadia, Lansing Historical Museum, and much more. But protect westward pioneers, and also touch on many of the there are also plenty of recreational opportunities to enjoy, incidents leading up to the Civil War. from the county and city parks to the beautiful native wildflowers and lush prairie grasses sprinkled along this historic route. F E S TIVA L S & EVEN T S W ILDFL OWERS Rose Verbena Prairie Groundsel Lead Plant Glandularia canadensis May-June Packera plattensis April-June Amorpha canescens June-August ksbyways.org 5 Glacial The Pioneering Spirit 3 Glaciers in Kansas? Obviously not any more, but millions of years ago our state was covered by ocean water and gigantic glaciers. As the formations receded north, they Hills carved out the gorgeous rolling hills and rock-strewn valleys that we see today. White Lewis & Clark Trail Cloud – Atchison, Leavenworth & White Cloud Highland The Lewis & Clark Expedition is one of America’s greatest adventure stories 36 Troy and has inspired many to follow the famous trail. Explore the sites and kiosks along the trailway markers. DONIPHAN Atchison ATCHISON 7 59 Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum Leavenworth – Atchison Overlooking the Missouri River bluffs, this is the historic birthplace of the internationally famed aviatrix. See family heirlooms, displays, photos and more LEAVENWORTH at this award-winning museum, which has undergone a number of impressive restoration efforts over the years. 70 SCE N I C PLACE S P O I N T S OF IN TERES T F E S TIVA L S & EVEN T S t Santa Fe Depot, Atchison t Amelia Earhart Earthwork t White Cloud Flea Market, White Cloud (Spring and Fall) t Leavenworth Atchison C.W. Parker Carousel Museum, at Warnock Lake, t Amelia Earhart Festival, Atchison (July) t t Atchison Carroll Mansion, Leavenworth Independence Park, t Buffalo Bill Days, Leavenworth (September) t t Leavenworth Tall Oaks Indian Monument, Troy Leavenworth Landing Park, t Pioneer Days, Troy (September) t t White Cloud Lincoln Monument, Troy Four State Lookout, t Oktoberfest, Atchison (October) 6 Glacial Hills Scenic Byway 3 The Pioneering Spirit GL AC I A L HILL S he receding glaciers also left behind some of the Several other people who helped shape American T most beautiful and fertile land in the state, which history have been a part of this region. Abraham Lincoln attracted farmers and settlers from all over. Perhaps the practiced his renowned Cooper Union speech in 1859 most famous people to pass through were the explorers in Atchison, Doniphan and Leavenworth Counties, and Lewis and Clark. On July 4, 1804, their expedition made Amelia Earhart’s childhood home is also found on this camp and celebrated Independence Day in the area now byway. But it’s not just the people who are fascinating. known as Atchison. You’ll be enchanted by the towering river bluffs, sharp- edged ridge crests and clear running streams. W ILDFL OWERS Pitcher Sage Rosinweed Stiff Goldenrod Salvia azurea July-October Silphium integrifolium July-September Solidago rigida August-October ksbyways.org 7 Gypsum A Colorful Heritage 4 Named for the underlying layers of gypsum, this unique byway boasts an incredible variety of geographic features. Also known as the Red Hills, you’ll see flat mesas, deep Hills canyons, sharp high hills and caprock formations, all within a 42-mile drive. Lake Coldwater – Coldwater The only lake in southwest Kansas that allows water-related sports, Coldwater is a 250-acre area for boating, swimming, fishing, bird watching, camping and hiking.