As you travel west past Topeka, Kansas, you come upon some of the most beautiful plains, hills and landscapes of the Midwest, the Flint Hills and the Smoky Hills of Kansas. Formed under shallow oceans millennia previous, the land undulates in green pastures and wheat colored acres under vast, deep blue skies.
Just short of midway across the state at Salina, you will find a turn to the north to Minneapolis, Kansas. Thinking yourself way off course, you begin looking for a portion of the 10,000 lakes touted by Minnesota. Soon you find yourself mesmerized by the continuing beauty of the rolling countryside in the Smoky Hills.
Rolling into the town of Minneapolis, a thriving little farm community, you are first impressed by the cleanliness and well kept streets and parks. The city has all the conveniences and diversity needed to support the surrounding countryside and the people are friendly and genuinely happy to welcome you. As you walk the safe streets, you get a sense that the community has pride and purpose in its place in the heartland.
Not far south from the city limit sign, you will find a little public park called Rock City. Maintained by a local non-profit corporation, you will find some 200 behemoth-sized rocks of calcium carbonate ‘concretions’ that long ago were deposited bit by bit in the softer Dakota Sandstone by underground streams. As the land eroded and weathered away over the course of 100 million years, these rocks, some measuring 27 feet in diameter were left on a surface area covering about two football fields. It is thought by geologists that the spherical remains perhaps began by forming around a small fossil or grain of sand, much like the pearl of an oyster will begin to form around an irritant. This is the largest collection of such geological concretions in the world. Kids and adults are encouraged to experience the rocks fully by climbing upon and walking among them. The suggested three-dollar visitor fee for maintaining the park may be dropped in a coffee can at the door of the visitor center if no one is in attendance.
South and then west from Rock City brings you to Lincoln, Kansas, the post rock capital of Kansas. Much of the industry in Lincoln centers on the quarrying of quartzite. You will get a hint of what the post rock capital means as you begin to notice mile upon mile of the fences along Highway 18 are supported upon posts made of limestone and quarried from ledges in the area. These posts were used extensively to transform the open prairie into manageable farms and pastureland. Many homes, barns and public buildings are seen made of this material.
An enjoyable 25-mile drive west from Lincoln brings you to Lucas, Kansas. Billed as the 8th wonder of the Kansas art world, Lucas is home to the Garden of Eden. Created of concrete in the early years of the 20th century by retired school teacher, S.P. Dinsmoor, the Garden of Eden is a must see in central Kansas. Displaying a ‘log’ cabin constructed of limestone logs, trees 40 feet tall of concrete, the Garden is imaginative and inspiring. You may even catch a glimpse of Mr. Dinsmoor as he is interred in a mausoleum on the property. Lucas is a beautiful, quirky town with artists gathered from many walks of life.
South of Lucas, on Highway 232, you will find Wilson State Park. Consisting of a 9000-acre scenic lake, you will enjoy hiking, camping, fishing and many other forms of outdoor recreation. Known as the clearest lake in Kansas, Wilson Lake is cut out of fossil rich limestone and has a rich and varied shoreline to explore.
Next time traveling in
Kansas, be sure to vacate the Interstate highway, slow down and experience the cultural heritage of the Midwest. It will give you a fresh perspective of the Heartland of America.
in Kansas
