Does anyone need more items for their Kansas bucket lists? We all know that there’s some things you definitely can’t find in Kansas that should be here. Especially if they were created here, like White Castle was. Either way, these are 21 things you’ll only find here in Kansas, and nowhere else. Enjoy!
- Visiting (and trying to say) The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things in Lucas.
Annie Lambia/Flickr While you’re busy trying to wrap your head around the name, let me explain. This mobile museum in Lucas carries tiny sculptures of the world’s biggest attractions. You can see some through the window or when their shop is open.
- Take a bathroom break at the Toilet Bowl Plaza in Lucas.
ccarlstead/Flickr This public bathroom is covered in mosaics and styled to look just like a giant toilet. It’s been voted the #2 best bathroom in America and they couldn’t be more proud!
- Adventuring inside the world’s largest hand dug well in Greensburg.
Chris Murphy/Flickr Venture into the largest hand-dug well, or check out the improvements to the museum since they’ve been renovated.
- Visiting the legendary “Wheat Jesus” in Colby – and probably taking a picture with it, too.
Duncan Rawlinson/Flickr This billboard that displays no message has gathered sort of a cult following with tourists. It’s sort of creepy, but it’s just the right kind of weird for Kansas.
- Stand before the World’s Largest Hand-Painted Czech Egg in Wilson.
Duncan Rawlinson/Flickr It’s obviously not a real egg, but the town of Wilson is the czech capital of Kansas. That being said, this egg is only the beginning when it comes to how Wilson expresses their heritage.
- Walking along Kansas’ oldest swing bridge in Moline.
Franklin B. Thompson/Flickr I’ll personally pass on this one because I’m afraid of heights, but if you aren’t, this one is a cool place to check out. It’s our oldest swing bridge, and who knows how long it will stay intact?
- Riding the underground train at the salt mine in Hutch.
fundriving/Flickr Even if you’re not crazy about the salt mine part of this, there’s an entire section that’s filled with movie memorabilia and costumes you can enjoy instead.
- Find your curiosity at Monkey Island at the Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence.
Granger Meador/Flickr Once home to the first American monkey sent into space, this is now a play area for non-space monkeys at this zoo.
- Entertain yourself at the Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings in Belleville.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr This museum speaks for itself, and if you haven’t seen these exhibits, you should. They’re all the creations of Paul Boyer, which he started making as a hobby after losing one of his legs.
- Stand at the Center of the Contiguous United States outside Lebanon.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr It’s pretty self explanatory why this one is found nowhere else, but it’s still a really cool spot to check out during a road trip through the area.
- Visit the world’s largest easel – and a huge Van Gogh painting, as well – in Goodland
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr Aside from being a very large Van Gogh painting, the largest easel in the world sits here in Goodland and nowhere else. I can imagine if you painted this by hand, it would take forever!
- Marvel at the “Fish-in-a-Fish” fossil at the Sternberg Museum in Hays.
James St. John/Flickr This Xiphactinus fossil in the Sternberg Museum was found in the same chalk that makes up our Monument Rocks and surrounding area. We did once have a sea here, after all!
- Eat at the historic Hays House in Council Grove.
Yelp It’s the oldest constant-running restaurant West of the Mississippi, which has to stand for something, right? Plus, the food is made homestyle and always hits the spot.
- Photograph a herd of Kansas Dala Horses in Lindsborg.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Like Wilson is our Czech capital, Lindsborg is our Swedish capital. As such, they have plenty of Dala horses hanging around to show for it.
- Check out our weirdest rock at Mushroom Rock State Park in Brookville.
Lane Pearman/Flickr As strange as a mushroom shaped rock is, the State Park itself is also beautiful. However, we know you’re only here for the mushroom. They always are.
- Find a lawful loophole at Truckhenge in Topeka.
Lynae Zebest/Flickr Once upon a time, a man was told to get his junky cars up off the lawn. So… he did.
- Explore an artist’s vision at the Garden of Eden in Lucas.
Patrick Emerson/Flickr The artistic visions of the people in Lucas seem to always be colorful (and a little political), but the concrete sculptures here are just plain beautiful in their creativity.
- Walk on an ancient ocean floor at Monument Rocks in Gove County.
Patrick Emerson/Flickr The sky framed by a horizon of jagged chalk formations isn’t a sight you get to see often. However, there are a couple places in Kansas where you get to view and walk on the floor of an ancient sea.
- Stand where an explorer once stood at Coronado Heights outside of Lindsborg.
Tyler/Flickr Don’t give up on your trek here, like the explorer Francisco de Coronado once did. He didn’t find a city of golden-belled trees, but he found Kansas. Now there’s a little castle here, in his honor.
- Climb between a rock and a hard place at Rock City in Minneapolis.
smarkflea/Flickr These rocks were once part of a large rock, but were eventually washed out by water and wind. Some are as large as a car, and others are small enough to sit on. Either way, they’re a cool little piece of Kansas’ geographical history.
- Gaze at the world’s largest electric shovel named Big Brutus in West Mineral.
Steven Rodriquez/Flickr It’s a huge electric shovel, no matter how “retired” it may be. If you or your kids love construction equipment, it’s always a sight to visit this prairie giant.
It’s not every day that you find so many items to add to your bucket list. What else belongs on this list that you can only do in Kansas? Tell us in the comments below!
Annie Lambia/Flickr
While you’re busy trying to wrap your head around the name, let me explain. This mobile museum in Lucas carries tiny sculptures of the world’s biggest attractions. You can see some through the window or when their shop is open.
ccarlstead/Flickr
This public bathroom is covered in mosaics and styled to look just like a giant toilet. It’s been voted the #2 best bathroom in America and they couldn’t be more proud!
Chris Murphy/Flickr
Venture into the largest hand-dug well, or check out the improvements to the museum since they’ve been renovated.
Duncan Rawlinson/Flickr
This billboard that displays no message has gathered sort of a cult following with tourists. It’s sort of creepy, but it’s just the right kind of weird for Kansas.
It’s obviously not a real egg, but the town of Wilson is the czech capital of Kansas. That being said, this egg is only the beginning when it comes to how Wilson expresses their heritage.
Franklin B. Thompson/Flickr
I’ll personally pass on this one because I’m afraid of heights, but if you aren’t, this one is a cool place to check out. It’s our oldest swing bridge, and who knows how long it will stay intact?
fundriving/Flickr
Even if you’re not crazy about the salt mine part of this, there’s an entire section that’s filled with movie memorabilia and costumes you can enjoy instead.
Granger Meador/Flickr
Once home to the first American monkey sent into space, this is now a play area for non-space monkeys at this zoo.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
This museum speaks for itself, and if you haven’t seen these exhibits, you should. They’re all the creations of Paul Boyer, which he started making as a hobby after losing one of his legs.
It’s pretty self explanatory why this one is found nowhere else, but it’s still a really cool spot to check out during a road trip through the area.
Aside from being a very large Van Gogh painting, the largest easel in the world sits here in Goodland and nowhere else. I can imagine if you painted this by hand, it would take forever!
James St. John/Flickr
This Xiphactinus fossil in the Sternberg Museum was found in the same chalk that makes up our Monument Rocks and surrounding area. We did once have a sea here, after all!
Yelp
It’s the oldest constant-running restaurant West of the Mississippi, which has to stand for something, right? Plus, the food is made homestyle and always hits the spot.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Like Wilson is our Czech capital, Lindsborg is our Swedish capital. As such, they have plenty of Dala horses hanging around to show for it.
Lane Pearman/Flickr
As strange as a mushroom shaped rock is, the State Park itself is also beautiful. However, we know you’re only here for the mushroom. They always are.
Lynae Zebest/Flickr
Once upon a time, a man was told to get his junky cars up off the lawn. So… he did.
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
The artistic visions of the people in Lucas seem to always be colorful (and a little political), but the concrete sculptures here are just plain beautiful in their creativity.
The sky framed by a horizon of jagged chalk formations isn’t a sight you get to see often. However, there are a couple places in Kansas where you get to view and walk on the floor of an ancient sea.
Tyler/Flickr
Don’t give up on your trek here, like the explorer Francisco de Coronado once did. He didn’t find a city of golden-belled trees, but he found Kansas. Now there’s a little castle here, in his honor.
smarkflea/Flickr
These rocks were once part of a large rock, but were eventually washed out by water and wind. Some are as large as a car, and others are small enough to sit on. Either way, they’re a cool little piece of Kansas’ geographical history.
Steven Rodriquez/Flickr
It’s a huge electric shovel, no matter how “retired” it may be. If you or your kids love construction equipment, it’s always a sight to visit this prairie giant.
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