Looking for a road trip that inspires inquisitive minds of
all ages? Before we even returned home from our Yellow Brick Road Trip through the
Southern Central Prairie, my son Charlie was sketching “machines” of gears and
springs, my son Lucas was beginning a rock collection, and I was planning an
art project involving my favorite (broken) coffee mugs.
We began our journey with a stop in Belleville at the Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings. I
had previewed some of the works of Paul Boyer in the 8 Wonders of Kansas book, where the museum is listed as a finalist,
but I was not prepared to experience the mechanical genius or the compelling
personal journey behind Mr. Boyer’s work.
Collections of gears, endless lengths of wire, springs and
baubles mysteriously set scenes in motion. Intricately carved wooden figurines brought
to life with the touch of a button. One of my sons stood transfixed by small
metal balls bouncing through a series of orchestrated, intricate patterns. The
other son questioned our tour guide (Paul Boyer’s daughter) about the inner
workings of a handmade calliope. I can’t think of another way to say this: My
children are typically curious travelers, but it isn’t often that I have to literally
drag them away from a museum.
Further along in our itinerary, we visited the small town of
Lucas, the Grassroots Arts Capital of Kansas. Our first thrill after leaving
the interstate toward Lucas was a breathtaking view of Wilson Lake. Touted as the clearest lake in Kansas, the surrounding
hills and valleys and the green hues of spring offered spectacular contrast
with the crystal-blue water.
Our first stop in Lucas was the home of Samuel P. Dinsmoor, more
commonly known as the Garden of Eden.
Inspired by strong Populist beliefs and unconventional religious convictions,
the eccentric Dinsmoor created a collection of over 200 large concrete
sculptures winding above and around his limestone cabin. Among the statues – each
with its own story to tell about Dinsmoor’s world views – he built his mausoleum.
Reluctantly, I followed our guide inside to take a peek and, admittedly, it was
a strange experience. But it wasn’t my view of Dinsmoor’s visage that made it
onto the postcards home. I’ll remember the Garden of Eden best for its
personality – the resourcefulness of its architect, the beautiful design
elements and innovative techniques.
The spirit of Dinsmoor lives on through the creative character
of the community, and it’s apparent even in the public restrooms. It just so happened
that my son was having a bit of an emergency as we left the Garden of Eden. Our
tour guide simply directed us downtown. “Go straight,” she said. “You’ll see
it.” In fact, you can’t miss it. Shaped like a giant toilet complete with a
winding roll of paper, the Bowl Plaza
public restroom was built to serve Lucas’ 10,000 annual guests.
I am not ashamed to say I have a surprising number of toilet
photos from my travels across Kansas. What’s more fun, really, than the eco-friendly
flushes of Greensburg? However, the Bowl Plaza earns top honors as the most
artistic and inspired toilet I’ve ever visited. The mosaic walls were so fun to
explore, my boys actually begged to check out the “girls’ side.”
At different times along this journey, my boys and I dreamed up art projects together, sketching our thoughts on napkins and maps. And our story offers just a glimpse into the inspiration and adventure that this Northern Central Prairie itinerary offers. Don’t miss reading about other Yellow Brick Road Trip adventures at TravelKS.com.
Jessica is a teacher, librarian and mom who lives in Holton. She loves all things summertime: Gardening, lazy days at the lake, farmers' markets, and family vacations. Some of her favorite Kansas places include the Art Lab at Washburn University, the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library, the Konza Prairie and Main Street in Newton.