Things to Do in Kansas

Learn about the Plains Indians - the Kansa, Osage and Pawnee tribes - and how they lived and survived during westward expansion.

Discover the seven forts that protected these lands during earlier times: Fort Leavenworth, Fort Scott, Fort Riley, Fort Larned, Fort Hays, Fort Dodge, Fort Harker and Fort Wallace.

The Santa Fe and Oregon trails are just two of the...

Learn about the Plains Indians - the Kansa, Osage and Pawnee tribes - and how they lived and survived during westward expansion.

Discover the seven forts that protected these lands during earlier times: Fort Leavenworth, Fort Scott, Fort Riley, Fort Larned, Fort Hays, Fort Dodge, Fort Harker and Fort Wallace.

The Santa Fe and Oregon trails are just two of the trails that passed through the state. Later trains, like the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, make the transportation of goods and travel easier.

Discover the role Kansans played before and during the Civil War.

In the 1920s, the aviation industry grew roots here, eventually growing wings and becoming a major employer.

The concept of eating out will never be the same because of the likes of White Castle, Valentine Diners, Fred Harvey and others that got their start here in the Plains.

The museum also showcases a hands-on children's gallery, 2.5-mile nature trail surrounding the museum and the Potawatomi Mission built in the mid 1800s.

Home to the nation's top professional auto racing, Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval racetrack. The 81,000 seat speedway hosts big-league racing events for NASCAR, ARCA and the IndyCar series.

Fans can get an up-close view of the racing action at Fan Walk, a behind-the-scenes interactive area within Kansas Speedway's infield. Experience stock car racing first hand, by climbing behind the wheel and taking part in one of five different driving schools, offered periodically at the...

Home to the nation's top professional auto racing, Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval racetrack. The 81,000 seat speedway hosts big-league racing events for NASCAR, ARCA and the IndyCar series.

Fans can get an up-close view of the racing action at Fan Walk, a behind-the-scenes interactive area within Kansas Speedway's infield. Experience stock car racing first hand, by climbing behind the wheel and taking part in one of five different driving schools, offered periodically at the speedway.

Explore this working stagecoach stop that is located on the Sante Fe Trail. The 1865 home and surrounding grounds provide a sense of what life was like during earlier days. Visit the Heritage Center year-round; see the home's interior and observe living history programs from Friday to Sunday during the summer.

Explore this working stagecoach stop that is located on the Sante Fe Trail. The 1865 home and surrounding grounds provide a sense of what life was like during earlier days. Visit the Heritage Center year-round; see the home's interior and observe living history programs from Friday to Sunday during the summer.

Founded in 1922 and located on the campus of Washburn University, Mulvane is one of the oldest art museums west of the Mississippi River. It features more than 4,000 objects in its permanent collection and works by national and international artists, as well as those from the state and region. Objects include paintings, prints, drawing, sculptures, photographs and decorative art.

ArtLab, a hands-on learning center for all ages, is open year-round.

Founded in 1922 and located on the campus of Washburn University, Mulvane is one of the oldest art museums west of the Mississippi River. It features more than 4,000 objects in its permanent collection and works by national and international artists, as well as those from the state and region. Objects include paintings, prints, drawing, sculptures, photographs and decorative art.

ArtLab, a hands-on learning center for all ages, is open year-round.

Encompassing 300 acres, the park and gardens features seasonal plants, woodland gardens, a meadow and water garden, an xeriscape garden, a Monet garden, a legacy garden with native plants, an arboretum, a children's discovery garden and the environmental education visitor center that is a model for what it promotes.

A growing number of one mile or less trails meander near or cross Wolf Creek, taking hikers through a number of ecosystems....

Encompassing 300 acres, the park and gardens features seasonal plants, woodland gardens, a meadow and water garden, an xeriscape garden, a Monet garden, a legacy garden with native plants, an arboretum, a children's discovery garden and the environmental education visitor center that is a model for what it promotes.

A growing number of one mile or less trails meander near or cross Wolf Creek, taking hikers through a number of ecosystems.

Named the #1 outdoor family attraction in Kansas, the zoo with more than 2,000 animals, features habitats representing a number of continents - North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia, plus a children's zoo.

Discover orangutans and chimpanzees, penguins, alligators, Komodo dragons, pythons and macaws, one of 60 species of birds found here.

Giraffe...

Named the #1 outdoor family attraction in Kansas, the zoo with more than 2,000 animals, features habitats representing a number of continents - North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia, plus a children's zoo.

Discover orangutans and chimpanzees, penguins, alligators, Komodo dragons, pythons and macaws, one of 60 species of birds found here.

Giraffe feedings (fee) and seasonal boat tours to view gorillas and lemurs (fee) are offered.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, established in 1996, protects a nationally significant example of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Of the 400,000 miles square miles of tallgrass prairie that once covered the North American continent, less than four percent remains, primarily in the Flint Hills region, which runs north and south through the east-central Kansas.

The preserve is comprised of 10,861 acres and most of that land will remain under the ownership of...

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, established in 1996, protects a nationally significant example of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Of the 400,000 miles square miles of tallgrass prairie that once covered the North American continent, less than four percent remains, primarily in the Flint Hills region, which runs north and south through the east-central Kansas.

The preserve is comprised of 10,861 acres and most of that land will remain under the ownership of the Nature Conservancy, which purchased the land in 2005. The land's original purchaser in 1994, the National Park Trust, donated approximately 32 acres to the National Park Service (NPS) in 2002. The NPS may own up to 180 acres, yet the preserve's establishing legislation calls for the entire acreage to be managed cooperatively by the NPS and the private landowner.

The preserve includes historic buildings and cultural resources of the Spring Hill Ranch - the 1881 historic ranch house, limestone barn and outbuildings, and one-room schoolhouse. Stephen F. Jones a southern cattleman started the ranch. Catch and release fishing in the preserve's ponds.

The museum, housed in a historic 1892 building formerly occupied by the city, contains 70,000 items from 1865 to present. Memorabilia ranges from photographs to fashions and business records to furniture. Combined they tell the story of the people and events that have shaped Wichita and the surrounding area.

Of special note is the Chisholm Trail exhibit. Jesse Chisholm was born in 1805 the son of a Scottish father and a Cherokee Indian mother. Adding to this, he was an...

The museum, housed in a historic 1892 building formerly occupied by the city, contains 70,000 items from 1865 to present. Memorabilia ranges from photographs to fashions and business records to furniture. Combined they tell the story of the people and events that have shaped Wichita and the surrounding area.

Of special note is the Chisholm Trail exhibit. Jesse Chisholm was born in 1805 the son of a Scottish father and a Cherokee Indian mother. Adding to this, he was an in-law to Sam Houston and an ancestor of Will Rogers. He established a trading post near present day downtown Wichita and because he was part Indian was able to move throughout Indian Territory. It was his "Chisholm Trail" that made possible the great longhorn cattle drives from Texas to the railroads in Kansas - reputed to be 5,000,000 Texas Longhorns.