Kansas Blog

Not too far off I-70 in Colby is the Prairie Museum of Art and History. Upon entering the museum we went first to the Kuska Exhibit, which houses the namesakes' personal collection of items including wedding dresses, military apparel, buttons, toys, glass and countless other memorabilia (I dare say everything but the kitchen sink!). At first glance it appears to be similar to any other historical museum I have been to but as I stepped foot into the first aisle, I discovered backlit vintage hodgepodge and before I knew what was happening, six legs were running everywhere and six hands were busy opening and touching this and that.

  I have always loved glass art. When I was a child, my grandmother collected paper weights. I used to pick them up and marvel at the bursts of color sprouting from beneath layers of clear glass. These things of substance and beauty always held a little bit of mystery for me. My favorites could be turned upside down to reveal what seemed like a single point of color mysteriously bursting into the central floral or spiral design of the piece. They seemed impossible, mesmerizing and yet somehow soothing.

One advantage of the many hunting opportunities in Kansas is the anticipation of looking forward to the next season and the next big opening day. Some seasons offer boisterous camaraderie with other outdoorsmen, while other hunts require patience and a complete disconnect with the rest of the world. Regardless of the season or the experiences that come from it, most hunters simply revel in the opportunity to be outdoors. The best hunting trips have a way of getting into the blood and creating a stream of never-ending enthusiasm, so it's no big surprise that most hunters live for their favorite seasons. 

Standing in awe at the unique oil paintings in the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg, I realized the Swedish-born artist's signature use of vivid colors and bold brushwork reminded me of a mural in the Belleville Post Office I'd seen as a child. Gallery Director Larry Griffiths said Sandzén painted murals in post offices in Halstead, Lindsborg and Belleville as part of the Works Progress Administration program in the 1930s. It's no wonder I have grown to love Sandzén's paintings, especially the larger pieces found in the gallery that bears his name.

I would compare visiting the El Quartelejo Museum in Scott City to time-traveling through Western Kansas. When we arrived at the museum, a replica of a pueblo style building, we were given a brief introduction of the exhibits from Dennie Siegrist, the facility manager. He started us off with the western interior seaway, which occupied this part of the country 100 million years ago. We passed through the Monument Rock display, showing the chalk pyramids attraction which is located just down the road from Scott City. 

Our trip to Chanute on a recent Saturday afternoon included a snowy scenic drive along K-39. As we drove over a bridge into the downtown area, the sight of the snow-frosted roofs of the historic buildings (including the old Santa Fe train depot) reminded me of a Christmas card. The community has created a welcoming setting for visitors-charming storefronts, restored historic buildings, and a friendly atmosphere that includes music playing from speakers mounted on light posts. 

We may think photo manipulation is a recent phenomenon ushered in with our desktop computers, but it was happening long before the first computer chip came into existence. In the early 1900s, "exaggerated postcards" were a big hit, especially in the Great Plains. 

From my northeastern Kansas perch, I hit the road and rather than simply transplanting myself in the western part of our state, I took a trip around the world. The Stauth Memorial Museum is a must see. Nestled in the town of Montezuma and neighbors to the first Kansas windfarm, the museum resides, showcasing the travels of Claude and Donalda Stauth.

Kansas is well known for quality hunting and fishing opportunities. With plentiful numbers of wildlife, furharvesting and trapping are outdoor activities that while often overlooked, are an important part of our culture.

I have always been fascinated by the rise and fall of places. I’m talking about spots in our world where hope and optimism brought people in droves and then, somehow, failed to keep them. These are places where the world literally changed pace – and then reverted back to nature. If you have ever driven the Kansas Turnpike near El Dorado, you came near one of these places, and I’ll bet you never knew it.