8 Most Beautiful College Towns In Kansas
Go Jayhawks! The University of Kansas is arguably the most renowned university in the state of Kansas. Located in the sixth most populated city in Kansas, the town offers many attractions related to history, learning, outdoor adventure, and scenery. However, some of Kansas’s smaller colleges are found in smaller towns and hold just as much to see and do. For your next trip to Kansas, be sure to stop at one or more of these eight beautiful college towns, from the art-filled streets of Lindsborg’s Little Sweden to the outdoor trails and historic sites around Manhattan’s Kansas State University.
Manhattan
Home of Kansas State University, the town of Manhattan boasts plenty of outdoor and interactive activities for those interested. The university has attractions that are open to the public and encourage visitors. One highlight is the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art. With ever-changing exhibits, the museum has over 12,000 pieces of art in its collection. The art on display is designed to encourage meaningful discussions related to the student body, faculty, and staff at KSU, as well as residents of Kansas as a whole.
Another enticing attraction at the school is the K-State Insect Zoo. The interactive zoo allows visitors to view giant cockroaches, tarantulas, scorpions, praying mantises, and more insects. For those interested in continually learning, Kansas State University is one stop you won’t want to miss. Nearby, Tuttle Creek State Park offers an opportunity for a change of pace and to get outside and explore. Five units and 1,200 acres make up the park and provide a beach, swimming area, campsites, as well as camp amenities, hiking and biking trails, and so much more.
Emporia
Located in Emporia is its namesake university, Emporia State University. One of their public attractions is the Peterson Planetarium. Students, residents, and tourists are encouraged to visit and learn about the solar system, go star gazing, and participate in STEM activities. The planetarium is located in the Science Hall and hosts public programs on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Another interactive learning exhibit, outside the university, is the Red Rocks State Historic Site. A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and political advisor, William Allen White was not only renowned himself, but also the company he kept. Visit the house where White lived and hosted notables like Theodore Roosevelt and four other presidents.
As a final stop in Emporia, anyone who loves roadside attractions will not want to pass up an opportunity to visit the Coca Cola Silo. The silo was painted to look like the classic red can of the famous drink. A roundabout in front of the silo makes it easy for visitors to drive up and snap a few pictures of the larger-than-life drink.
Atchison
Atchison, Kansas, is the county seat of Atchison County and home of Benedictine College. The liberal arts college has a beautiful park located right in the center of campus called the Raven Memorial Park. Dedicated to the unborn, the religious centerpiece features a memorial bench, a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and a waterfall. Students and residents alike visit to pay their respects. A less somber, more eerie, off-campus experience one might enjoy is a visit to the Sallie House. Every year, hundreds of horror fans visit the house to possibly catch a glimpse of the ghost that resides there. Once the home of a local physician, 6-year-old Sallie died on the operating table and is rumored to still haunt the house. Come for a day tour or brave an overnight visit to the Sallie House.
If you are looking for a more lighthearted visit during your time in Atchison, the International Forest of Friendship is just the stop. Scenic and educational, the park honors women pilots with an induction that includes a stone added to the walkway that winds through the trees. All 50 states in the U.S. and over 35 countries are represented.
Hays
Originally located on the grounds of the past Fort Hays military post, Fort Hays State University has since relocated closer to the city. However, the grounds are still open for tourism. The Fort Hays State Historic Site now resides where the college formerly stood. Fans of history will enjoy walking around the grounds of the four remaining buildings. In addition to the historic buildings, the visitor center also displays clothing made by Plains Indians, Plains Indian toys, revolvers, and more.
Another enticing park to visit is Frontier Park (Frontier Historical Park). This point of interest not only has walking trails and a disc golf course but is also home to a herd of bison that has lived in the park for over 65 years. For one final destination, visitors will love the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Featuring displays of paleontology, geology, botany, paleobotany, and zoology, this museum offers something for all interests.
Lindsborg
Referred to as Little Sweden, Lindsborg is where you’ll find Bethany College, which features an art gallery that is open to the public. Visitors can enjoy the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery right on campus. Born in Sweden, Sandzen came to Bethany College to become a teacher, and at the time of his retirement, he had established himself as a celebrated painter and printmaker. The gallery features a collection of his works.
Another museum that celebrates Lindsborg’s Swedish roots is the Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum. By educating, entertaining, and creating a community, the museum aims to preserve the spirit of the Smoky Valley. Featuring the 1898 Historic Flour Mill, 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion, and 1870 Homestead Cabin, the museum includes multiple buildings on the National Registry of Historic Places as well as archives and artifacts. In a town full of art, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the works of local artist Lester Raymer at the Red Barn Studio Museum. Dedicated to the life of Raymer, the museum houses paintings, ceramics, metalwork, woodcarving, stitchery, and jewelry from the artist.
North Newton
In North Newton, you will find Bethel College, established in 1887 and affiliated with the Mennonite Church, which the National Register of Historic Places recognizes. To learn more about its past, visit the Kauffman Museum, which details the trail of the Mennonites, who migrated to North America over 150 years ago. Learn their stories, stories of the prairie, and the land they occupied through the museum’s exhibit “Of Land and People”.
Another historical landmark in nearby Newton is the Warkentin House Museum. The Queen Anne architecture allows visitors to experience Victorian life. The home has 80 percent of the original furnishings from the Warkentin family, a family known for encouraging the Mennonites to bring a specific wheat to the state, which led to their massive productivity in grain growth. As a final visit in North Newton, visitors will want to check out the Blue Sky Sculpture. Intended to blend in with the sky, the sculpture features a cloud motif, stoneware figures, a passageway, and an arched shape.
Leavenworth
The town of Leavenworth is where the University of Saint Mary was founded in 1923, originally as a boarding school for young women. That same school now welcomes the public to check out the Bernard H. Hall Abraham Lincoln Collection in the Keleher Learning Commons. The collection features more than 10,000 pieces of memorabilia, including one of the original copies of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, a telegram from Lincoln to his wife sharing the news of the end of the Civil War, and a letter written by Mrs. Lincoln and co-signed by Lincoln himself. For those history fans, you won’t want to miss this.
Another historical attraction to check out is the Buffalo Soldier Monument. Dedicated to the memory of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments of the U.S. Army, this statue features a soldier atop a horse. It is within Fort Leavenworth, so a visitor’s pass is required to view the statue. For one final, unique site in town, fans of fun and games will enjoy a visit to the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum. Guests can ride a carousel that was constructed in 1913! Other museum features include an aluminum Paul Parker Carousel from the 1950s, and the oldest primitive carousel in the U.S.
Arkansas City
For theater and musical fans, Cowley College, located in Arkansas City, has just the attraction for you. The college thrives on relationships with the community and invites the public to The Brown Center, a proscenium theater with over 800 seats for guests to enjoy the shows put on by the university students. Make sure to check the website to see what shows are currently playing!
For a historical experience in Arkansas City, visit the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum. Experience life in 1893 from the archives of the pioneers who forged a new life in Arkansas City and the surrounding areas. Explore the prairie homesteads, one-room schoolhouses, farms, gardens, and more in relation to frontier life. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy a stop at the Chaplin Nature Center to continue their adventure in town. Stop by the visitor center or hike the four miles of trails that are part of the 230-acre preserve. Discover the prairies, floodplain forests, creeks, and beaches all within the facility.
Finishing Thoughts
Beautiful campuses, sprawling landscapes, and public attractions. These are just a few of the lures of these small towns. Learn the history of these places through their art, museums, and education centers. No matter what sort of activity you desire, each of these places can provide multiple opportunities for excitement. Next time you’re in Kansas, don’t miss a chance to visit one of its eight most beautiful college towns.
