9 Most Welcoming Towns In Kansas's Countryside
Kansas is for many the soul of the American Midwest. Once a contested territory during the US Civil War, violence took place here that inspired the nickname, "Bleeding Kansas." Since then, the state has evolved into a place of welcoming towns and people. Also known as the Sunflower State, Kansas' legacy encompasses cowboys and cattle, world-changing leaders like Dwight Eisenhower, cultural minorities like the Swedish immigrants of Lindsborg, and the stuff of classic movies like The Wizard of Oz. For a tour through some of Kansas' best features — many of which live on in its smaller towns — places like the ones below stand ready to welcome the weekend visitor or longer-term guest.
Abilene
Abilene, a seemingly modest little place in the northeast part of the state, draws visitors who seek to pay homage to one of the last century's most important figures. The town was the boyhood home of World War II commander and US president Dwight Eisenhower. Tourists can visit Eisenhower's grave, an associated museum, and his presidential library, all here in Abilene.
In other attractions, the town says it holds the world's largest belt buckle. The open-air sculpture stands nearly 14 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Fans of racetracks and gambling will enjoy the Greyhound Hall of Fame Museum, honoring the famous breed of racing dog. Abilene also lies along the Gunsmoke Trail, named after the famous television series (1955-1975).
Atchison
Along the Missouri River that forms the state line with neighboring Missouri, Atchison brings together two elements of interest for the traveler: aviation and architecture. The legendary pilot Amelia Earhart once called this town home, and today, the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum draws fans of flying and exploration. Atchison's annual Amelia Earhart Festival organizes demonstrations of airplane maneuvers over the Missouri, as well as crafts, food, and music.
In architecture, Atchison's Victorian-era homes and buildings draw tourists from far and wide. The Atchison County Courthouse, where in 1859 US president Abraham Lincoln gave a two-hour speech, still stands downtown. Atchison also has a community of Benedictine Catholic Christians, whose campus at Mount St. Scholastica, and their St. Benedict's Abbey monastery, lend further interest to tourists hoping to see unique buildings, whether secular or sacred.
Coffeyville
Coffeyville sits in southeast Kansas, near the Oklahoma state border. Established in 1869, the town used to be a trading post, and therefore an intersection of people and goods. Its history stands alongside more contemporary charms. Sitting along the Verdigris River, Coffeyville offers a historic town center rich in Victorian architecture, like the standout Brown Mansion, built in 1906. The Dalton Museum details an 1892 bank heist, during which ordinary citizens resisted a crime in progress. The altercation left eight people dead — four citizens and four bank robbers.
For a pleasant walk through town, the riverside paths along the Verdigris are a local favorite. Golf fans might prefer the popular Coffeyville Country Club.
Dodge City
In Kansas' southwest, Dodge City offers small-town charm and the goings-on of a larger city. Once a haven of frontier-style vice and lawlessness, with famous outlaws like Wyatt Earp, the town is now a peaceful, welcoming place to visit. It had come a long way, being the same place that inspired the term "get out of Dodge," when a person must skip town to maintain their freedom and their life.
Dodge City was once an important transportation hub: the National Old Trails Road, Jones Plummer Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail all passed through town. The Boot Hill Museum, which houses Kansas's Cowboy Hall of Fame, provides Western history and variety shows that re-enact the town's days as a rough-and-tumble territory settlement. Travelers with children will like Dodge City's twenty-one parks, especially Wright Park, which has the Dodge City Zoo inside it.
Fort Scott
Fort Scott sits on the Marmaton River at Kansas' southeast edge. Beginning in the 1840s as a US Army garrison, Fort Scott today offers the visitors historic architecture, especially in the form of numerous Victorian buildings. The Fort Scott Historic Site offers even more 19th-century homes and structures, illustrating the lifestyles of the state's past.
Patriotic types will appreciate the Fort Scott National Cemetery, which serves as the final resting place for more than 8,000 US military veterans and their kin. Active travelers should head to the 155-acre Gunn Park, where biking, boating, jogging, and other options abound. And for a taste of classic Kansas agriculture, visit Foster Dairy, a milk farm open to visitors and an ideal stop for traveling families.
Lindsborg
Also known by the moniker 'Little Sweden,' the town of Lindsborg traces its start to a community of Swedish settlers who arrived in the 1860s. Most tourists visit the Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, which displays the culture, cuisine, and crafts of Lindsborg's historic first families. Structures around town, like Bethany Lutheran Church, a denomination of Protestant Christianity found across Scandinavia, further reflect Lindsborg's heritage. Even today, the church flies American and Swedish flags on its grounds.
For culture more focused on the present, visitors flock to town for its annual Art Lovers Affair and Auction. This gathering provides an opportunity to support creativity and education: the proceeds go toward scholarships for local students.
Marysville
Marysville lies in Kansas' northeast corner, not far from Nebraska. Settled in 1861, the town boasts a wealth of cultural interest, not least the Koester House Museum and Gardens, where plants and manicured grounds beautify a historic Victorian-style home from 1876.
The Marshall County Historic Court Museum sheds more light on Marysville, from its early role as a stop on the Oregon Trail, and its place in the Pony Express postal system. More recently, Marysville has become known as "Black Squirrel City," after the population of lively local mammals. For green space and a breath of fresh air, check out Alcove Spring Historic Park, which illuminates Marysville's pioneer past.
Ottawa
Though its name sounds Canadian, the Kansas town of Ottawa is distinctly American. Sitting in the state's east-central region, this town takes its name from the Native American tribe on whose reservation it first sprang up. The town's eclectic architecture counts examples of Art Deco, Gothic, Victorian, and other styles. Ottawa's buildings have had a place on the National Register of Historic Places for more than 50 years.
In other culture, the town claims to have the oldest continuously-operating cinema house in the whole world: the Plaza Cinema Movie and Memorabilia Museum, in business since 1907. For more history, the town's Old Depot Museum commemorates the golden age of rail, which helped settle Ottawa, Kansas, and much of the American West.
Wamego
In northeast Kansas, the small town of Wamego celebrates the state's signal contribution to movie history. At the Oz Museum, dedicated to the 1939 film and the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1900, visitors can learn of the Kansas story that changed the world. The museum has more than 2,000 Oz-related objects. Oz-themed points of interest crowd Wamego's downtown, too: kids can play on Emerald City Playground, and tourists can walk an actual Yellow Brick Road. There is even a downtown trail with no fewer than 15 statues of Toto the dog.
Other attractions include the 15-acre City Park, a green space with an old-time windmill. The park is beloved as a picnic spot, and perfect for some family-friendly relaxation. The Wamego Historical Museum sits within City Park's limits.
Kansas' Welcoming Spirit Lives in its Small Towns
As these towns show, Kansas has put the reputation that inspired the term "Bleeding Kansas" firmly behind it. Welcoming, all-American small towns across the state celebrate the Kansan quality of life, cultural richness, and contributions to American and global popular culture. Dodge City is now a place to stay, not to get out of. Architecture fans will be spoiled for choice, with Victorian and other gems stretching from Atchison to Ottawa. Fans of The Wizard of Oz can find their bliss in Wamego and discover just how much the namesake book and movie helped make Kansas a place of storytelling excellence. For a warm welcome and a trip to remember, the Sunflower State has much to share with first-time or returning visitors.
