10 minute read
Points of Interest
ARGONNE FOREST
2100 McKinley, Great Bend 620-793-4160 • North side of Veterans Memorial Park • Dedicted to the young men from Barton
County and the surrounding area who fought in World War I with emphasis on the Battle of Argonne in Germany on Sept. 26, 1918. • Displays, artwork, photos and signage.
GREAT BEND - BRIT SPAUGH ZOO AND RAPTOR CENTER
2123 Main St., Great Bend 620-793-4226 Open 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily. • Visitors pay no admission fee. The zoo features grizzly bears, multiple species of cats and a variety of smaller, exotic critters. Be sure to check out the newly renovated Grizzly Bear exhibit and check out the Bison in their brand new exhibit! • This free zoo is good for about a 45-90 minute visit.
FARMER’S MEMORIAL
K-96 Park at the corner of K-96 and 10th St., Great Bend • 20-foot stainless steel sculpture created by Bruce and Brent Bitter, B & B Metal
Arts of Hoisington. A tribute to early pioneer families who settled Great Bend and the surrounding communities.
BARTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM & VILLAGE
85 U.S. 281, Great Bend 620-793-5125 • Located on five acres, just south of Great
Bend on US 281, across the Arkansas
River Bridge, the Village boasts several authentically furnished period buildings including a one-room school house, a church, a pioneer cabin and a Lustron home. Collections tell the story of this area from the Paleo Period through the
Indian Wars to World War II and beyond. • Admission $4 for non-members 16 & older. SUMMER HOURS (APRIL-OCTOBER) Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. WINTER HOURS (NOVEMBER-MARCH) Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
B-29 BOMBER MEMORIAL PLAZA
Great Bend Army Air Field Great Bend Municipal Airport entrance • Great Bend’s B-29 Memorial Plaza is open to visitors every day, to honor the men and women of the Great Bend Army
Air Field. • No admission charge. • Self-guided.
FORT ZARAH
East of Great Bend on Hwy. 56 • Roadside park located near one of the two original locations of the fort. • Fort was established in 1864 to help protect mail service along the Santa Fe Trail.
ELLINWOOD UNDERGROUND TOUR
1 N. Main St. Ellinwood, KS 67526 Northwest corner of Main & Santa Fe, U.S. 56 at the stoplight. To make tour reservations call 620-617-6915 or 620-564-2400 or historicwolfhotel.com Admission $12/adult - $6/kid 12 & under • Built in 1887 and listed on the Kansas
State Historical Register. • Tunnels originally connected the business district. • Original flooring, wallpaper, and barber’s mirror. • Tunnels under the Dick Building and the
Historic Wolf Hotel. • Tours are conducted only by advance reservation. • Prohibition era Speakeasy open on Friday and Saturday nights. • Period style lunch the 3rd Sunday of every month. • Hotel open year around by reservation
CHEYENNE BOTTOMS
204 NE 60 Rd, Great Bend 620-793-3066 • The largest marsh in the interior of the
United States, designated a “Wetland of
International Importance”. • The Bottoms is one of the most important ecosystems in Kansas and one of the most important migration points for shorebirds in North America. • Hunting, primarily duck and goose, is a big draw for locals and those from other states.
GOLDEN BELT VETERANS’ MEMORIAL
59 NW 50 Rd., Great Bend • Honoring Barton County Veterans from all six branches of the military from the Civil War until today. • Project paid for through donations, call 620-793-1800 for information. Details also found at www.bartoncounty.org and on the
County’s social media pages. • Three stones are in place with the names of 1,139 veterans. • Names are being accepted for Stone IV.
CLAFLIN MUSEUM
210 Main Street, Claflin 620-786-9307 or 620-793-0546 • Open all holidays and by appointment. • Housed on the second floor of the old
Claflin Grade School with over 1800 items and old photographs. • Pertains mainly to the history of northern
Barton County, including the towns of
Claflin, Odin, Beaver, Hitschman, Dubuque and St. Peter & Paul Church. • Free Admission. • Self-guided tour, spend as much time as you like.
GREAT BEND COMMUNITY THEATRE
1905 Lakin Ave., Great Bend 620-792-4228 • Renovated former movie theater. • Live performances. • Available for rent.
SHAFER ART GALLERY
Barton Community College 245 NE 30th Road, Great Bend 620-792-9342 shafergallery.org • Attached to the Fine Arts Building on BCC campus. • Featuring trending regional and national artists. • Workshops and family activities. • Free admission, open year round Winter Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Summer Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. • Tour groups welcome. • Gallery is closed for most college observed holidays.
HOISINGTON HISTORY MUSEUM
120 E. 2nd, Hoisington 620-282-0913 or 785-483-9402 • Call for appointment. • Facebook - Hoisington History Museum • Open Sunday of Labor Day weekend 2021 for a special presentation from
Patricia Watts, author of “South of the
Tracks”.
JACK KILBY SQUARE
Downtown Great Bend • The grounds that surround the Barton County Courthouse. • Massive bronze sculpture created by local artist Chet Cale entitled “The Gift”. • Splash pad. • Home to the Clayton M. Morrison
Memorial Bandshell and Thelma Faye
Harms Stage. • Holiday lights.
HEARTLAND FARM
www.heartlandfarm-ks.org 1049 CR 390, Pawnee Rock 620-923-4585 hfarm@gbta.net Facebook: HeartlandFarmKS • Non-profit ministry of the Dominican
Sisters of Peace. • Registered agritourism operator. • Tours and visitors welcome by appointment. • Workshops and demonstrations yearround. • Open-air pavilion, gift shop, arts and fiber studio, walking trails, and labyrinth. • Organically-managed gardens. Find us at the Summer Street Stroll Farmers Market! • Great spaces for bird watching. • Guest housing available for individuals and for groups of up to 9. • Official hosting site for Harvest Host. • Day, short-term, and long-term volunteer opportunities. • Home to a herd of lovable alpacas.
GREAT BEND PUBLIC LIBRARY
1409 Williams, Great Bend 620-792-2409 • Permanent art display featuring works by
Birger Sandzen, Charles B. Rogers, Bill
Shaddix and others along with local artists. • Free internet / scanning / computer access / printing (10 pgs) / study rooms. • Children, Teen & Adult activities year round. • Summer Library Program. • Digital lending services. WINTER HOURS Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. SUMMER HOURS Monday - Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
KANSAS OIL & GAS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
5944 10th St., Great Bend • Displaying the history of the oil & gas industry, geography of Kansas, and much more. • The Midwest Energy Education Center offers an interactive space for youth programming. • The Biggs Conference Room is available for private party rentals. • The Hall of Fame Room highlights with photos and information the pioneers of the Kansas oil and gas industry. • The museum is currently closed but they look forward to opening back up in 2021.
Contact John Francis, president, at 620-786-9920 for more information.
SANTA FE TRAIL
In 2021, The Santa Fe Trail commemorates the 200th Anniversary of the trail. Barton County is proud of the trail history and heritage. There are four sites tributed to the trail and these include: Walnut Creek Ranch, Fort Zarah, Barton Co. Historical Museum And Pawnee Rock. From Plum Buttes to the Walnut Creek Crossing to Pawnee Rock, the area that is now Barton County played a major role in the history of the Santa Fe Trail. • Big Bend of the Arkansas River — This was the next overnight campground after leaving Cow Creek and the only reliable source of water in the area. Located on the west edge of Ellinwood. • Walnut Creek Crossing — Located east of
Great Bend. Also known as Allison Booth
Ranch and Peacock Ranch. From 1855 through 1872, a number of enterprises were located there, including a trading post (ranch), stage station, post office, toll bridge, Camp Dunlap and Fort Zarah.
MUSEUM OF ELLINWOOD
104 N. Main, Ellinwood 620-564-2886 ellinwoodhistoricalsociety.com • Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Open mid-April until October. Or by appointment. • Check Museum of Ellinwood facebook for information or the Ellinwood Community
Historical Society web page.
KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER
592 NE K-156, Great Bend 620-566-1456 or 877-243-9268 www.wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu • Branch of Fort Hays State University’s
Werth College of Science Technology and
Mathematics. • Located on the SE corner of KDWPT’s Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area on Hwy. 156 along Wetlands and Wildlife
National Scenic Byway. • Interpretive exhibits on Cheyenne
Bottoms, including the importance of wetlands and the plants and animals inhabiting them. • Scheduled educational programs, Nature Trail, Classroom, Auditorium, Gift Shop. • Van tours. • Free admission. OPEN APRIL 1 - OCTOBER 31 Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. OPEN NOVEMBER 1 - MARCH 31 Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed Monday
DOROTHY MOSES MORRISON CHAPEL
Barton Community College 245 NE 30th Road, Great Bend 620-792-9342 • Part of the Fine Arts Building on the BCC
Campus, the chapel boasts five stained glass windows from the razed First
Congregational Church in Great Bend.
The chapel can be rented for events such as small weddings or performances. It has become a popular space for chamber groups and music recitals.
FARMERS MARKET
• Broadway parking lot of Great Bend
Public Library, Great Bend. Every
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings in the spring, summer and fall.
SUMMER STREET STROLL FARMERS MARKET
• Jack Kilby Square, downtown, Great Bend. Thursday nights 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. May - October.
SRCA DRAGSTRIP
Expo Complex, Great Bend 620-792-5079 www.srcadragstrip.com • Home of the first NHRA Nationals in 1955. • Home of the first AHRA Nationals in 1956. • Total length of track is 3/4 mile. • Track reconstructed beginning in 2020 and completed to all concrete in 2021. • NHRA sanctioned 1/4 mile dragstrip which holds a NHRA Lucas Oil Drag
Racing Series Event. • NHRA Summit Drag Racing Series held through the year. • Check facebook and the schedule page for more information and special events.
PAWNEE ROCK MONUMENT
12 miles west of Great Bend on U.S. 56 Hwy., Pawnee Rock • Natural landmark along the Santa Fe Trail.
In the trail days it was 30 feet higher than it is today. A pavilion atop the rock, erected through the efforts of several women’s service clubs a century ago, indicates the original height before the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad took the top portion of the rock to use as fill in railroad construction. • Enjoy a panoramic view across the prairie. • Carving in rocks mark where travelers on the Santa Fe trail paused in their journeys, some as far back as the early 1800s.
SANTAS AROUND THE WORLD AND SANTA HOUSE
1223 Main St., Great Bend 620-792-2536 • Twenty-four one-of-a-kind life-sized, international Santas personally made by
Great Bend artist Loretta Miller. OPEN NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 22 Hours may vary, but appointments can be made also! Thursdays & Fridays, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday, 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Admission is a freewill donation. Presented by the Rosewood Roots and Wings Foundation.
CLAYTON M. MORRISON MEMORIAL BANDSHELL AND THELMA FAYE HARMS STAGE
South side of Jack Kilby Square between Main St. and Kansas St. • Home of the Great Bend City Band summer concert series, various events and live music during June Jaunt. For rental information contact Community Coordinator at chayes@greatbendks.net.
TRAIL OF LIGHTS GREAT BEND
•Our light displays twinkle in various places around town, Brit Spaugh Park & Zoo,
Jack Kilby Square, Veteran’s memorial
Park, K96 Hwy & 10th and MORE! Many light displays have been crafted by the
City Park Department Employees. For more information contact Great Bend Convention and Visitor’s Bureau 620-792-2750 or City of Great Bend 620-793-4111. www.exploregreatbend.com
