Kansas - Sunflower State
In May of 2006 we flew into Wichita which is on the east bank of the Arkansas River. We enjoyed wandering around downtown with its unique blend of modern and historic architecture and an impressive display of public art. Adjacent to the city center is Old Town which consists of 19th century warehouses cleverly repurposed into restaurants, entertainment venues and The Museum of World Treasures. The name is a little hyperbolic, but it was fun.
Our next stop was Hutchinson because a close friend, Jim Chabin, grew up there and told us that we absolutely had to! The highlight of Hutchinson is the Cosmosphere, a space museum and STEM education center. It was really interesting! It has the largest combined collection of US and Russian spaceflight artifacts in the world, including Sputnik 1 and the Apollo 13 command module Odyssey. Our friend was correct, it was well worth the effort to get there.
Abilene is the home of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. Andy and I were both kids when he was elected in 1952 and re-elected in 1956. I remember swinging in my backyard with my sister shouting, “We like Ike, we like Ike!” under the direction of our mother who was a big Eisenhower fan. We learned many previously unknown (to us) facts about the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces Europe and 34th President of the United States. This quote has stayed with me: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence…by the military and industrial complex.” I think he knew whereof he spoke.
Topeka is the capitol of Kansas, and we had a great tour of the building. Particularly impressive were a mural of John Brown and the elaborately painted dome. Nearby First Presbyterian Church contained beautiful Tiffany stained-glass windows. Less lofty but equally enjoyable was dinner that night at Boss Hawg’s BBQ.
Lawrence is the home of the University of Kansas. We drove through the beautiful campus and visited the Spencer Museum of Art. It is the kind of art museum that Andy and I like, small but well-curated. The building itself is beautiful. We drove through the Old West Lawrence Historic District which is a residential area on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes fifty residential structures within six city blocks near the center of Lawrence. The houses reflect the distinctive characteristics of 19th century Kansas architecture. The styles are very eclectic: Italian Renaissance, Victorian and simple utilitarian Frontier, but it is just a beautiful neighborhood. We decided that if we moved to Kansas, this is where we would want to live. In fact, that is one thing we have learned from this quest: college towns have a great deal to offer in terms of cultural, artistic and academic pursuits. We love college towns.