HISTORY & HERITAGE

We take pride in our state's history and heritage. From the native tribes who resided on this land for centuries to the innovative pioneers who lead the way and everything in between.

History & Heritage

Pony Express: Along for the Ride

  • 5 minutes

Kansas Pony Express sites celebrate over 160 years of the legendary, short-lived mail system Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over eighteen. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death…

History & Heritage

Kansas Innovator: George Washington Carver

  • 5 minutes

Portrait by Wichita artist Ric Dunwoody George Washington Carver is one of Kansas’ favorite sons. And for good reason; he was a man of many talents. Most of us know him as a scientist, but he was…

Travel

Flying into The Beaumont

  • 2 minutes

Photography by Bill Stephens A historic fly-in hotel and restaurant serves ranchers, bikers, and the occasional celebrity The town of Beaumont, population 46, can be easily reached by car as it…

Travel

Black Squirrels of Marysville

  • 3 minutes

Story & Photography by Rachael Sebastian Their appearance is shrouded in mystery, and covetous towns have attempted to kidnap them, but Marysville’s population of rare black squirrels has thrived for…

History & Heritage

Honoring Gordon Parks

  • 5 minutes

New display signs inform about and celebrate the Fort Scott locations where the famous artist filmed his masterpiece In 1969, Kansas native Gordon Parks became the first Black American to release a…

History & Heritage

Birthplace of “Home on the Range”

  • 6 minutes

Story by Ron Johnson, this article was featured in the fall issue of 1982 (Editor's note: This article has been lightly edited) A small historical sign in Smith County along U.S. Highway 36 points…

Travel

Ride Into The Garage

  • 6 minutes

Photography by Nick Krug Salina’s new car museum represents the latest in a growing network of specialized vintage and customized auto showcases around the state On one of the walls of The Garage…

Arts & Entertainment

Historic Opera Houses of Kansas

  • 6 minutes

Raised across the state as edifices of high culture (at least in name), opera houses are now being restored and revisited for community events and performances In the late 1800s, railroad lines were…

  • 4 minutes

Photography by Andrew Pankratz Communities across the state hold nostalgic Christmas and holiday events The nostalgia of traditional Christmas celebrations will be on display for visitors to…

Reasons to Love Kansas

Dwayne's Prints On

  • 5 minutes

A world-famous photo lab in Kansas continues to thrive under a new generation Photography by Bill Stephens Derek and Josh Carter remember December 20, 2010, the day their grandfather gained…