Buzz
Kansas is often described as flat, monotonous, and uneventful—a sentiment echoed by those who have only driven through the state. While it boasts major cities like Wichita and Topeka, as well as vibrant college towns such as Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas, and Manhattan, known as the 'Little Apple' and home to Kansas State University, much of Kansas is dominated by small farming communities. To outsiders, these towns might appear dull, but there’s more to them than meets the eye.
Contrary to popular belief, many of these small Kansas towns are home to quirky and extraordinary landmarks that set them apart from anywhere else in the country—or even the world. This list highlights ten such towns, each with its own peculiar and amusing attractions. Kansas seems to have an abundance of these unique sites, and it’s time to explore the strangest and most entertaining ones. Whether you’re planning a cross-country trip or just curious, these towns offer a glimpse into the flat yet fascinating heart of America.
10. Lucas
Lucas, a small town, boasts one of the most unique art collections globally. Unlike traditional art, Lucas is celebrated as the 'Grassroots Art Capital' of the world, showcasing an array of folk art installations created by local, non-professional artists. These handmade, homemade pieces give the town a distinctive charm and cultural identity.
For years, local artists in Lucas have been crafting eccentric and unconventional sculptures, scattering them throughout the town. Despite having a population of just over 300, Lucas is home to nearly as many art pieces, creating a visual feast for both residents and tourists. The town’s artistic abundance earned it a spot on a magazine’s list of the '8 Wonders of Art' worldwide. While it may not rival the Museum of Modern Art or the Guggenheim, it’s a treasure trove of creativity worth exploring.
No discussion about Lucas is complete without mentioning the 'Garden of Eden.' This sprawling sculpture and diorama complex was the brainchild of Samuel P. Dinsmoor, a local resident who was captivated by the biblical tale of Adam and Eve. He transformed his property into a sculpture garden, vividly depicting this story and other biblical narratives through his art.
Beyond biblical sculptures, Dinsmoor also crafted concrete statues, signs, and placards featuring biblical messages and political satire. His work is eccentric, unforgettable, and a true reflection of small-town Kansas charm. If you find yourself near Lucas—located just off Interstate 70 near the state’s center—it’s worth a detour to experience this one-of-a-kind artistic oddity.
9. Greensburg
In May 2007, the small town of Greensburg, Kansas, was almost entirely wiped out by an EF-5 tornado over a mile wide. The devastating storm flattened nearly every structure, claiming 13 lives, including 11 residents. Since then, Greensburg’s recovery and rebuilding efforts have captured national attention, turning the town into a symbol of resilience and renewal.
The disaster brought about remarkable outcomes, including Greensburg’s transformation into one of America’s most eco-friendly cities. Rebuilt with sustainability in mind, the town now boasts a minimal carbon footprint and low emissions. Resilient, forward-thinking, and inspiring! But Greensburg’s uniqueness doesn’t end there. Like many small Kansas towns, it has its own distinctive claim to fame.
Greensburg’s standout feature is a hand-dug well—but not just any well. It’s the largest hand-dug well in the world, aptly named the 'Big Well.' This impressive structure reaches 109 feet (33.2 meters) deep and spans over 32 feet (9.7 meters) in diameter. Alongside the well, a museum and visitor center highlight its history, a massive meteorite housed in the town, and Greensburg’s broader story. It’s a fascinating blend of history and local pride, making Greensburg a standout destination.
Interestingly, the second-largest hand-dug well in the world is also in Kansas. The small town of Westmoreland takes pride in this achievement, though its well is smaller, measuring 38 feet (11.6 meters) deep and just over 29 feet (8.8 meters) wide.
Like Greensburg’s well, Westmoreland’s was dug entirely by hand in 1914, using shovels, pickaxes, and sheer manpower—no machinery involved. This labor-intensive effort was undertaken to provide clean water for the town and the nearby railroad, showcasing the determination and resourcefulness of its residents.
8. Goodland
Goodland, a city in western Kansas near the Colorado border along Interstate 70, appears to be a typical highway town with gas stations, convenience stores, and residential neighborhoods. However, it boasts a unique feature that sets it apart: the World’s Largest Easel. Yes, Goodland joins Lucas in celebrating art in its own distinctive way.
Positioned just off the highway, Goodland’s 80-foot (24.4-meter) tall easel stands prominently in the town center. It displays a massive 32-by-24-foot (9.8-by-7.3-meter) replica of Vincent Van Gogh’s iconic 'Sunflower' painting. As Kansas is known as the Sunflower State, Goodland aimed to make a bold statement to travelers entering from Colorado. Rather than simply planting sunflowers—already abundant in the state—they chose to erect this artistic landmark.
The idea for the easel originated from Sunflowers USA, a trade group representing the local sunflower industry, and Canadian artist Cameron Cross. Together, they raised $150,000 to bring the project to life. The easel was unveiled and dedicated during Goodland’s Sunflower Festival in August 2001. Since then, this towering structure and its impressive painting have stood proudly by the interstate, captivating millions of passing drivers.
Goodland’s quirks don’t end with the easel. The town is also home to a replica of the World’s First Patented Helicopter. While it’s not the original—which crashed on its first flight—the replica serves as a tribute to the groundbreaking invention. The original helicopter’s remnants were sold for scrap before the patent arrived, prompting Goodland officials to create this memorial to innovation.
The replica now stands as a testament to the town’s quirky spirit and its commitment to preserving unique historical moments. It’s a reminder that even failed innovations can leave a lasting legacy. Only in Kansas could such a peculiar yet fascinating story unfold.
7. Pratt
Pratt, a small rural town in south-central Kansas, is renowned for hosting the Miss Kansas Pageant annually. For decades, it has proudly crowned the most accomplished and beautiful women in the state. The Pratt County Historical Museum celebrates this legacy with an exhibit showcasing the pageant’s history, featuring portraits of winners since 1955 and mannequins dressed in their original gowns.
The museum’s most amusing artifact is an old road sign from Kansas’s northern border with Nebraska. Dating back to the late 1960s, the sign reads, 'Kansas: Home of Beautiful Women.' It was placed to tease Nebraskans after Kansas women won Mrs. America, Homemaker of Tomorrow in 1967, and Miss America in 1968. The humor is undeniable, and it’s almost a shame the sign wasn’t left on the roadside to continue poking fun at visitors from Nebraska.
Pratt also boasts a quirky claim to fame: its 'hot' and 'cold' water towers. Like many Kansas towns, Pratt stores its municipal water in towers. In 1956, a prankster climbed the towers and painted 'hot' on one and 'cold' on the other. While the joke is simple, it’s undeniably clever. The city officials appreciated the humor and decided to leave the graffiti intact.
Nearly 70 years later, Pratt still proudly displays its 'hot' and 'cold' water towers in the town center. Other towns, such as Hubbard (Iowa), Garrison (North Dakota), and Marion (Virginia), have since followed suit with similar water tower pranks. However, Pratt was the first, and its residents take great pride in this lighthearted legacy.
6. Cawker City
Cawker City, a small Kansas town, is famous for housing the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. This colossal creation currently weighs 17,320 pounds (7,856.2 kilograms) and measures over 40 feet (12.2 meters) in circumference. Made up of nearly 8 million individual strands of twine—7,938,709 to be precise—the ball continues to grow larger each year.
Every year, Cawker City celebrates with an annual picnic and parade, featuring a 'twine-a-thon.' During this event, residents gather to add more twine to the ball, ensuring it remains the largest in the world. While it’s unclear who might challenge this title, Cawker City is determined to hold onto its unique claim to fame.
The ball’s origins trace back to 1953 when Frank Stoeber began rolling twine on his farm. Over four years, he tirelessly added strands until, in 1957, he donated the 5,000-pound (2,268-kilogram) ball to Cawker City. Since then, it has grown significantly, gaining an additional six tons of twine over the decades.
Today, the massive ball sits under a protective awning, shielding it from the weather. This quirky landmark has put Cawker City on the map—though which map, we’re not entirely sure. Still, it’s a testament to the town’s unique charm and creativity.
5. Mt. Sunflower
Kansas’s highest point is located near the Colorado border, which shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with the state’s famously flat terrain. While the southeastern region has some minor hills, their elevation pales in comparison to the western part of the state. Kansas’s landscape is overwhelmingly level, making its highest point a unique feature.
As you head west toward Colorado, the land gradually rises. Colorado is known for its towering mountains and high altitudes, but Kansas also experiences a subtle increase in elevation. However, Kansas doesn’t have traditional mountains—except for Mount Sunflower, which stands as its highest point.
Just outside the small village of Weskan, near the Colorado border, lies Mount Sunflower. While it’s more of a modest hill than a mountain, it officially holds the title of Kansas’s highest point at 4,039 feet (1,231 meters). The site features a handmade monument and a few commemorative items, celebrating this geographic oddity.
Mount Sunflower is tucked away on private property, accessible via a remote dirt road. The landowners have generously allowed visitors to explore the site, which now includes a quirky statue, a mailbox, a guestbook for signatures, and a Little Free Library for book exchanges. The 'hike' to the summit is a short, flat walk from the parking area, making it an accessible and amusing destination for all.
4. Lebanon
Lebanon, a small village in north-central Kansas, is recognized as the geographic center of the contiguous United States, often referred to as the 'lower 48.' Standing in Lebanon means you’re at the precise midpoint of the nation. Imagine balancing the entire landmass of the U.S. on a pin, with Lebanon as the focal point—it’s a fascinating concept!
This distinction excludes Alaska and Hawaii, focusing solely on the 48 connected states. Lebanon earned this title after the U.S. Geological Survey determined the exact coordinates of the midpoint, settling a competition among nearby Kansas towns. The honor was officially granted to Lebanon, cementing its unique claim to fame.
To reach the geographic center, visitors travel along Kansas’s shortest two-lane highway. At the site, a stone monument proudly marks Lebanon as the heart of the nation. Nearby, a map displays the distances between Lebanon and major cities like Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, offering a sense of the town’s central significance.
The area also features a now-closed motel and a quaint chapel, open 24 hours a day for prayer and reflection. This tiny chapel, always accessible, adds a touch of serenity to the site, allowing visitors to pause and connect with their spirituality at the very center of the country.
3. Concordia
Our final stop in Kansas brings us to Concordia, a small town in the north-central part of the state. Here, the National Orphan Train Complex stands as a poignant reminder of the Orphan Train Movement, a significant yet somber chapter in American history during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This movement emerged as a response to the overwhelming number of orphaned children from immigrant families on the East Coast, many of whom were left without homes or support.
When organizations like the Children’s Aid Society of New York became overwhelmed, they sent these children westward on trains to find new families. Concordia, Kansas, was a key destination for many of these orphan trains. Families from across the state would gather at the station, hoping to adopt children or provide them with a better life.
Today, the National Orphan Train Complex preserves this history through a museum dedicated to the children who passed through Concordia and other stops. The museum has worked to compile records of these orphans, though many from the late 19th century remain elusive. Despite the challenges, the complex plays a crucial role in honoring this often-overlooked aspect of American history.
Concordia’s historical significance doesn’t end there. During World War II, its train station served as the terminus for a group of German prisoners of war, adding another layer to the town’s unique and multifaceted past.
In Concordia, American military authorities established POW Camp Concordia, which opened in July 1943 to house over 4,000 Nazi prisoners captured during battles on the Eastern Front of World War II. While Japanese internment on the West Coast is widely remembered, the Midwest also held German POWs, with Concordia being a significant location for such camps.
2. Scott City
Near the small town of Scott City lies a remarkable cluster of towering rock formations, known as the Chalk Pyramids or, occasionally, the Little Pyramids. These natural wonders stand out as some of Kansas’s most unique geological features, drawing comparisons to similar limestone formations found in nearby Oakley.
The Scott City formations are particularly striking, rising abruptly from the ground. The tallest of these ancient limestone structures reaches over 50 feet (15 meters) into the sky. Composed of Niobrara Chalk, these rocks date back to the Cretaceous Period, with the youngest formations originating in the Mesozoic Era, making them approximately 80 million years old.
During that era, the area was part of a vast inland sea. Today, visitors to the Scott City rocks can sometimes discover fossilized shark teeth, remnants of the ancient ocean that once covered what is now Kansas. It’s a fascinating reminder of the state’s prehistoric past.
The Chalk Pyramids, located on private property like Mount Sunflower, are accessible to visitors thanks to the generosity of the landowners. While climbing the rocks is prohibited, the site is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, free of charge. Though Scott City may not be a typical travel destination, these unique formations offer a one-of-a-kind experience for anyone exploring west-central Kansas.
1. Nicodemus
Nicodemus, a small town nestled among wheat fields and vast open spaces in northwest Kansas, appears almost ghostly today. With a handful of dilapidated houses, abandoned buildings, and a population of around two dozen, it seems like a forgotten place. Yet, its historical significance is profound.
Founded after the Civil War, Nicodemus was the first and only predominantly Black community established in the West during the post-slavery era. Remarkably, it remains the only such community still standing in the region. Though its current state is modest, its existence is a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of its founders and residents.
In 1877, freed slaves established Nicodemus, seeking a safe haven where they could live freely and independently. Escaping the challenges of the Reconstruction-era South, they migrated westward, eventually settling in this area. They named their town Nicodemus and aspired to build a thriving farming community. For a time, they succeeded, creating a vibrant and self-sufficient settlement.
In the expansive plains of Kansas, the settlers of Nicodemus cultivated wheat, corn, barley, and various other crops. However, as the 20th century progressed, the town gradually declined, with its population dwindling as residents either passed away or relocated. Today, Nicodemus is home to only a handful of people, and the town sees little activity. Remarkably, many structures from over a century ago still remain, albeit in varying states of disrepair. Visitors can explore these historic buildings and envision what life in Nicodemus was like during its vibrant past.
