A Coal Mine on the Plains
Beneath Cloud County’s prairie landscape, a hidden coal reserve once supported a small community Travelers on Kansas roadways may see abandoned limestone buildings and think of them as simply ruins of…
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Category: History & Heritage
Wild, Wild West: Travel the Gunsmoke Trail
For a taste of frontier life, follow this road trip through four Kansas cities featured in the iconic TV show Gunsmoke The camera pushes into a close-up of Matt Dillon, the gruff but honorable marshal…
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150 Years of the Kansas State Historical Society: Preserving Kansas’ Legacy
Photography by Nick Krug A Century and a Half of Kansas History: The Story of Kansas State Historical Society This year marks a monumental milestone for the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS)—its…
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Timeless Stories: Legendary Photojournalist, Jim Richardson, is Archiving his Life's Work
Photography David Mayes From National Geographic to the Flint Hills, Jim Richardson’s photography has captured the world’s stories—now, he’s ensuring his legacy endures for future generations. Jim…
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Textile as Art: KSU's Historic Costume and Textile Museum
Photography by Nick Krug A small museum on the campus of Kansas State University houses a rare and unusual collection of historic clothing and textiles The museum is here, but few know where to find…
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Miss Able: The History-Making Space Monkey
Illustration: Torren Thomas An unlikely astronaut, a Kansas monkey named Miss Able, rocketed the U.S. into the space race in 1959. Her successful ride in a Jupiter nose cone paved the way for humans…
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The Lost City of Etzanoa
Illustration by Lana Grove Artifacts from Ark City digs challenge what previously has been known about Plains Native Americans After recent archaeological digs in Kansas, our understanding, and our…
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The True Story of the Mummified Outlaw: Elmer McCurdy’s Wild Journey
Elmer McCurdy wasn’t your typical outlaw—his life of crime was defined by failure, and his bizarre posthumous journey only added to the tragic comedy of his existence. In October 1911, the Leader, a…
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How Nat Love (almost) Stole the Fort Dodge Cannon
Nat Love, or Deadwood Dick, is one of the most famous cowboys who rode the Western Cattle Trail. His autobiography tells of growing up enslaved on a plantation in Davidson County, Tennessee. He left…
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Dodge City's Western Cattle Trail
Texas cowboys drove cattle herds along the Western Cattle Trail transforming Dodge City with their business, celebrations, and wild ways Over 150-years ago the Western Cattle Trail, also known as the…
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