7 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Kansas

Kansas towns like Abilene, Fort Scott, and Lindsborg are home to some of the state's prettiest historic downtown strips. Abilene is the childhood home of President Eisenhower. Fort Scott began as a military fort in the 1800s. Lindsborg keeps its Swedish settler heritage alive through architecture and annual events. Each town's history is evident in its downtown district, with shops and museums occupying well-preserved Victorian and Italianate buildings. These downtown strips remain beautifully maintained and make great destinations for shopping or exploring local history.

Abilene

Abilene is a small town off Interstate 70 in east-central Kansas, known as the hometown of US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The town is home to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home, where visitors can learn more about the president's life. Other downtown attractions include the Seelye Mansion, a historic home featuring furnishings from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, and the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad, which offers scenic and dinner rides aboard a train pulled by a 100-year-old steam engine.

Abilene's historic downtown strip features beautifully preserved old buildings housing many local shops and restaurants. Amanda's Bakery and Bistro is a great place to find homemade meals, pastries, specialty teas, and espresso. The Abilene Downtown Antique Mall is one of several places to find antiques in town and is over 7,500 square feet.

Atchison

Atchison sits on the banks of the Missouri River in northeastern Kansas. It has a rich historical background and is known for containing many well-preserved buildings from past eras. Over 47 buildings, churches, and homes in Atchison are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, many of them featuring beautiful Victorian-style architecture. Consider visiting the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum to learn more about this famous aviator and explore the house where she was born, or take a tour of the Evah C. Cray Historical Home Museum to explore an elegant Victorian mansion.

Historic downtown Atchison is lined with 1800s-era commercial buildings that have been beautifully preserved. Italianate, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Second Empire architectural styles are all prevalent. Grab a delicious coffee or breakfast at The Sunflower, or pick up a tasty treat at The Berry Best Fudge Company. Stop in at the Atchison Visitor Center to learn more about the town's history and to find out all there is to explore.

Cottonwood Falls

Cottonwood Falls is a pretty little town in the Flint Hills region of Kansas, situated near a stretch of the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. The town attracts many visitors thanks to its friendly atmosphere and beautiful scenery, but it also boasts a rich history preserved in its historic downtown strip. Cute shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and museums line brick-paved streets and evoke a simpler time. The crowning glory of downtown is the historic Chase County Courthouse, an architectural wonder constructed in 1873.

While visiting Cottonwood Falls, visitors can explore preserved homes and buildings, including the 1879 Stone House and the Chase County Historical Society Museum. Those looking to spend time in nature and enjoy the scenery can explore the Swope City Park and Campground, which offers campsites for tents and RVs, as well as walking trails and gardens.

Fort Scott

Fort Scott lies about an hour south of Kansas City in eastern Kansas and was once home to an active military fort. The 19th-century Fort Scott National Historic Site preserves the fort's history and original buildings, bringing the site's past to life through artifacts and reenactments. This historic site is one of the town's major attractions, but it is hardly the only one. Visitors love touring Fort Scott's historic downtown district on foot, by car, or by trolley.

Many downtown buildings were constructed in the early 1900s from locally produced brick, and most are home to local shops, restaurants, and businesses. The Liberty Theatre, which opened in 1919, has been fully restored and is still used for events and live entertainment. The MO, KS, and TX Railroad Freight Depot, built in 1870, is a testament to the town's early bid to become the largest railroad center west of the Mississippi River.

Hays

Hays is a town in west-central Kansas and home to Fort Hays State University. It is both a college town and a friendly, close-knit community with a beautiful downtown strip. Known as The Bricks, downtown is filled with pretty brick buildings that house hundreds of shops and businesses. The Downtown Pavilion is an open-air event space in the heart of downtown Hays; in addition to special events, the pavilion hosts the Downtown Hays Market every Saturday morning from May through October.

The downtown district features shopping, dining, arts, and entertainment venues. Visitors can enjoy local food at restaurants like 9th Street Diner and The Golden Q, the former of which is known for its relaxed ambiance and delicious hash browns.

Lindsborg

Lindsborg is a cute town in central Kansas with a decidedly Swedish culture. The town was, in fact, first settled by Swedish immigrants in 1869, and is now known as Little Sweden USA. This heritage is still evident in the architecture and events for which the town is known. Various historical homes and buildings line the streets, especially along the downtown strip. One of the most recognizable buildings in town, now housing City Hall, was originally known as the Farmers State Bank building, a bright red brick structure built in 1887.

While strolling through downtown's brick buildings, visitors can stop in at many shops and restaurants to sample the local culture. The Blacksmith Coffeeshop and Roastery provides delicious artisan coffee. Hemslojd, Inc. is a shop that sells gift items and creates many of the wooden Dala Horses found throughout town. Many annual festivals, such as Midsummer's Festival, bring visitors and locals downtown to celebrate Swedish culture and enjoy the town's beauty.

Wamego

Wamego is situated on the Kansas River in the northeastern region of the state. It is filled with many historical attractions, such as a section of the Oregon Trail and the Columbian Theatre, a beautiful stone building built in 1895 and still used for live entertainment. The town is perhaps best known for its Wizard of Oz themes: the Oz Museum in the pretty downtown strip lets visitors explore nearly 100 years of Wizard of Oz history through artifacts and displays. An actual Yellow Brick Road leads through town and is lined with Oz-themed murals.

Visitors in Wamego have plenty of recreational options. Lincoln Street Lanes is a bowling alley that provides fun for the whole family. Also downtown, the Wamego Aquatic Center offers swimming pools and fun water activities for keeping cool in the summer. There are various camping, hiking, biking, and riverfront access options for those looking to spend time in nature.

Explore Downtown Strips in Kansas

Exploring historic downtown districts in small Kansas towns can be an adventure of its own. From towns like Wamego, with its connection to the Wizard of Oz, to Cottonwood Falls, with its historic buildings and brick-lined streets, there is so much to see and do along these downtown strips. They all share a historic beauty found in their well-preserved buildings and cute shops. Visitors looking to relax, explore, and enjoy the flavor of a bygone era will love spending time in these pretty Kansas downtowns.