In the middle of the United States lies the grand state of Kansas. A place many of us at Equity Bank call home. Outside of this beautiful state, Kansas might not be first on your list when thinking about places with unique appeal and geography, but there are a number of gems worth visiting in The Sunflower State.
This article has a few of our favorite destinations to visit in the beautiful state of Kansas.
Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum — Abilene, Kansas
For the ones who like history, there’s the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. This attraction has 5 separate buildings dedicated to the 34th president of the United States, so be sure to plan a 2-4 hours for this visit.
At this popular tourist spot, there are over 70,000 artifacts like: an electric car which Eisenhower drove frequently, a collection of necklaces and jewels that Eisenhower’s wife wore, and the actual table where D-Day was planned.
The Keeper of the Plains — Wichita, Kansas
This must see attraction is located in Wichita, Kansas. The Keeper of the Plains is the 44 feet tall statue of an American Indian that was carved by a Wichitan and Native American artist, Blackbear Bosin.
However do not expect to only see a statue here at this location, this site is located where the Big and Little Arkansas rivers join in downtown Wichita, so there is much to see.
Installed in 1974, This statue has become a sacred place where Native American tribes gather as well as a symbol of Wichita to commemorate the United States Bicentennial.
Boot Hill Museum — Dodge City, Kansas
Wanting to dive into the Old West? Boot Hill Museum is the place for you. This museum is located in Dodge City, Kansas and houses over 28,000 historical artifacts of the old Dodge City. See a Horn Chair composed of 22 horns, owned by Fred Harvey in 1827-1902. You also can not miss having a conversation with the moving paintings they have based on historic characters.
Boot Hill was a common name for cemeteries where gunslingers would bury their foes in the Old American West and it encapsulates the museum perfectly.
This attraction features live shows of salons and gun fights and should be one of the first places you visit in Kansas.
Oz Museum
Are you a Wizard of Oz Fan?
You can’t mention tourist attractions without talking about the Oz Museum. Kansas was the backdrop for the all famous movie, The Wizard of Oz, so the state now has an entire museum dedicated to everything Oz!
Here you can see collectibles like the original flying monkey (which is much smaller in real life), and the tornado prop used in the movie, which was actually made of cloth. There are also original books from the movie as well as some memorabilia from the iconic Broadway Musical, “Wicked.”
Wichita, Kansas
While it may not be the state’s capital, Wichita is the largest city in Kansas. This city has been nicknamed the “Air Capital of the World” because Wichita is home to many aerospace companies.
This city is also known for its enormous zoo, The Sedgwick County Zoo which is home to over 2,500 animals! Be prepared to feed giraffes and get up close and personal with a rhino when visiting this zoo!
You will not stop finding things to do in Wichita, so be sure to put that on the agenda.
Whether you’re just exploring Kansas for a week, or going on a month-long vacation to see some relatives..There is much to see in the Sunflower State! Let us know your thoughts and favorite location off this list. Is there a spot you love and we forgot to mention? Let us know!