Kansas Tourist Attractions

Special churches

Shawnee Methodist Mission in Fairway
The Shawnee Methodist Mission in the small town of Fairway in northeastern Kansas dates from 1839. The former mission has been on the list of Historic Places since 1966 and has even been a National Historic Landmark since 1968. The individual buildings of the mission complex have a red brick look. It now houses a museum, and the complex is also known as the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site.

St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria
The St. Fidelis Catholic Church in the small town of Victoria is one of the most impressive church buildings in the entire state. The church was built from 1908 to 1911 in the Romanesque style. St. Fidelis Catholic Church has been on the list of Historc Places since 1971. St. Fidelis Catholic Church is often referred to as the “Cathedral of the Plains”.

St. Joseph Catholic Church
The St. Joseph Catholic Church in the small village of Damar in northern Kansas is very impressive for such a small community. The church was built in 1912 and the architectural style can be attributed to neuromanic. St. Joseph Catholic Church has been on the list of Historc Places since 2005.

Zoos, parks and amusement parks

Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City
The Lee Richardson Zoo in the city of Garden City in southwest Kansas was opened in 1927 and is located in the city’s Finnup. The zoo covers an area of ​​190,000 m² on which over 300 animals from over 110 species. Among the highlights of the zoo certainly include Armurleoparden, snow leopard, camel, emus, red kangaroos, African elephants, black rhinos, lions, lynx, jaguars, pumas, anteaters, tapirs and flamingos.

Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita
The Sedgwick County Zoo in the city of Wichita was opened in 1971 and is one of the best attractions in the city. Over 2,500 animals from almost 500 species live in the zoo. Among the highlights of the zoo include certainly Armurleoparden, Bactrian camel, emus, tree kangaroos, African elephants, black rhinos, lions, okapi, lynx, jaguars, tigers, grizzly bears, anteaters, tapirs and flamingos. The zoo attracts over 650,000 visitors annually.

• Countryaah: Lists all towns and cities of Kansas in alphabetical order. Also includes top 10 cities by population in Kansas. Check medicinelearners for medical schools in Kansas.

Sunset Zoo in Manhattan
The Sunset Zoo in the city of Manhattan was opened in 1933. Over 300 animals from over 100 species live in the zoo. Highlights of the zoo include emus, chimpanzees, black rhinos, tigers, cougars, anteaters, and flamingos.

Topeka Zoo
The Topeka Zoo in the city of Topeka was opened in 1933 and is located in the city’s Gage Park. Over 300 animals live in the zoo, most of which are native species, but of course the zoo also has exotic animals. In 2010, a puma broke out of its cage after a visitor opened it. Fortunately, nothing bad happened. The puma was found in nearby bushes several hours later.

Nature reserves

Cimarron National Grassland
The Cimarron National Grassland Nature Reserve is located in the far southwest of Kansas, near the small town of Elkhart. The protected area has existed since 1960 and today covers an area of ​​approximately 438 km². The protected area is divided in two by the Cimarron River, the namesake, and is at an average altitude of 940 to 1,100 m, although it is a very flat short grass prairie area. In addition to the prairie landscape and the Cimarron River, the protected area with the Point of Rocks offers another attraction. The Point of Rocks is a rocky outcrop that used to serve as a guide, especially on the Santa Fe Trail. Today you can let your gaze wander over the forested valley of the Cimarron River from the Point of Rocks. With a height of approx. 1. At 080 m, the Point of Rocks is the third highest point in Kansas. Several hiking trails run through the reserve, including approximately 37 km of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge
The Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge is located in eastern Kansas, near the town of Hartford. The protected area has existed since 1966 and now covers an area of ​​approx. 75 km². The reserve extends along the banks of the Neosho River and is therefore primarily designed for migratory birds. Visitors to the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge will find great opportunities for boating, hiking and wildlife viewing, but surprisingly also for hunting and fishing.

Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge
The Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge is located in northern Kansas, near the village of Kirwin. The reserve has existed since 1954 and now covers an area of ​​approximately 44 km². The reserve also encompasses bank sections of the Kirwin Reservoir and the Solomon River and offers a scenic transition zone between prairie and hilly grasslands. Visitors will find a lot of animal species here and during the corresponding seasons also many migratory birds that used the reservoir as a resting place. Visitors to the Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge will find great opportunities for boating, hiking, and surprisingly, hunting and fishing.

Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge
The Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge is located in the far east of Kansas, near the village of Pleasanton. The reserve has existed since 1992 and now covers an area of ​​approximately 30 km². The name of the reserve comes from French and means something like “marshland of the swans”. The Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge not only protects migratory birds, but also other animal species and is also one of the last areas with alluvial deciduous forests. There are also many oaks and hickory trees.
The bald eagle is a special resident of the reserve.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located north of Strong City in eastern Kansas.
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a nationally important protected area for prairie landscapes. The reserve has existed since 1996 and now covers an area of ​​approximately 44 km². However, this is not so much if you realize that there were once over 1 million km² of prairie landscape in North America. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is also home to several historic buildings and five designated hiking trails.

Santa Fe National Historic Trail

Santa Fe National Historic Trail
The Santa Fe National Historic Trail traces the historic Santa Fe Trail trade route. The Santa Fe Trail was an important trade route in the 19th century, connecting the more densely populated areas of the Missouri River with the wide, open prairie landscapes.
After the area was opened up by rail, the Santa Fe Trail lost its importance. Nowadays, or since 1987, the Santa Fe Trail exists as the Santa Fe National Historic Trail and runs through the 5 states of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico over a total length of approx. 1,937 km and is one of the most interesting long-distance hiking trails in the USA. There are many interesting sights along the Santa Fe National Historic Trail today, such as Pecos National Historical Park, Fort Union National Monument, Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Fort Larned National Historic Site, Comanche National Grassland, Cimarron National Grassland as well as the cities of Arrow Rock, Kansas City and of course Santa Fe.

Other natural beauties

El Dorado State Park
With an area of ​​approximately 18.2 km², El Dorado State Park is the largest state park in the state. The park is located in southeastern Kansas in the Flint Hills region on the banks of El Dorado Lake.

Monument Rocks
The Monument Rocks are very interesting chalk rock formations in northwest Kansas. These have been caused by erosion over a long period of time and nowadays the imagination of visitors blooms. A visit at sunrise or sunset is particularly recommended. The formations reach heights of over 20 m and are over 80 million years old. The Monument Rocks are a National Natural Landmark.