Posted in Kansas Attractions June 06, 2022 by

Here Are 9 Things You Can Only Find In Kansas

There are a lot of things local to the U.S., or just to the Midwest, but there’s not much we have that’s just for Kansans. We do have some pretty cool things here, though, that other states haven’t even thought of. If you’ve ever wondered what is Kansas known for, the list of nine things below is a great place to start. Each of these things are unique to the Sunflower State and are definitely worthy of a visit.

1. World's Largest Easel
flickr/Nick Varvel
In Goodland, Kansas, this piece of art stands at 80 feet tall and weighs around 45,000 pounds.
World's Largest Easel, 1901-1917 Cherry Ave, Goodland, KS 67735, USA
2. World's Largest Group of Round Sandstone Concretions
Chris Murphy/Flickr
You might have noticed I'm a bit obsessed with rocks, but these things are really cool to see in person. They're made by sandstone that was washed away, revealing these rounded boulders hiding inside. There's around 200 of these, which is the largest group in the world. They're in Minneapolis, Kansas, so consider making a visit.
Rock City Park, 1051 Ivy Rd, Minneapolis, KS 67467, USA
3. World's Largest Hand-Dug Well
Chris Murphy/Flickr
In Greensburg, the largest hand-dug well in the world is 32 feet in diameter and 109 feet deep. Can you even imagine the time that took without all the heavy machinery of today?
315 S Sycamore St, Greensburg, KS 67054, USA
4. World's Largest Ball of Twine
David Heckman/Flickr
In Cawker City, Kansas, this big cat toy is famous for its size. It was started in 1953, and every August, twine is added to its circumference during a Twine-A-Thon. It currently weighs around 20,000 pounds.
719 Wisconsin St, Cawker City, KS 67430, USA
5. World's Longest Grain Elevator
GoogleMaps
Though some people believe the longest grain elevator is in Hutchinson, Kansas, the actual longest one is Wichita's DeBruce Grain elevator. It's 2,657 feet long and holds in excess of 22.4 million bushels. That's a whole lot of bread!
Wichita, KS, USA
6. The Original Pizza Hut
Jimmy Emerson, DVM
In 1958, two Wichita State University students opened this little hut for business, and it was later moved to the University's campus in 1984. That's a long time to serve slices!
2090 Innovation Blvd, Wichita, KS 67208, USA
7. The Geographical Center of the Contiguous United States
Jody Halstead/Flickr
Not counting Hawaii and Alaska, all 48 of our touching states have a center right by Lebanon, Kansas. It's a great place to stop by if you're ever in the area, and it'll leave you feeling, well, in the middle of everything.
The Geographic Center of the United States, Lebanon, KS 66952, USA
8. Windiest City in America
Joseph Novak/Flickr
The windiest city in America, Dodge City, sits right here in Kansas. With an average wind speed of 14mph, at least they've got good conditions for kites.
Dodge City, KS 67801, USA
9. The Keeper of the Plains
Tyler Cipriani/Flickr
Standing tall in Wichita, the Keeper of the Plains is our shining glory. Though it's not the "largest" anything, it's definitely a fantastic piece of art that both enchants and educates those who tour its grounds. In addition to Riverside Park, the Keeper of the Plains has giant bonfires lit nightly, as well as history of local Native Americans who settled this land long before Europeans showed up.
The Keeper of the Plains, 339 Veterans Pkwy, Wichita, KS 67203, USA

Have you ever visited any of these nine Kansas attractions? If so, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments below. Also, share with us any other attractions you’d add to this list.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

what is kansas known for

June 11, 2022
Jennifer Young

What are three things you can find with world records in Kansas?

There are several things you can only find in Kansas, including some that hold world records. Listed below are three things you can find with world records in Kansas, and you'll want to check each of them out.

1. World's Largest Ball of Twine

The World's Largest Ball of Twine is located in Cawker City, Kansas. Frank Stoeber started winding the giant ball of twine on December 24, 1953. It weighs nearly 20,000 pounds and is 43 feet around. An annual Twine-A-Thon is celebrated each third weekend of August. During this celebration, the community gathers to add more twine to the ball.

2. World's Longest Yellow Brick Road

In Sedan, Kansas, you'll find the World's Longest Yellow Brick Road. It wraps around the downtown area and is comprised of more than 11,500 bricks with the names of people, organizations, and schools inscribed on them. All 50 states are represented on these bricks, in addition to 28 foreign countries. You can even purchase a brick and add your own name.

3. World's Largest Easel

The World's Largest Easel is located in Goodland, Kansas. It's 80 feet tall and is currently holding a 32x24 sunflower painting that's a version of "Three Sunflowers In A Vase" by Van Gogh. This easel, which weighs 45,000 pounds, is standing near the center of town, approximately a half mile off I-70 along HWY 24.

What's one of Kansas' most popular roadside attractions?

Like every other U.S. state, Kansas is home to several roadside attractions that'll stop you in your tracks. One of these is Big Brutus. Big Brutus is located in West Mineral, Kansas and is the World's Largest Electric Shovel. It's 16 stories tall and weighs 11 million pounds. This Bucyrus-Erie model 1850-B electric shovel was able to dig 69 feet into the earth before it officially retired in 1974. Big Brutus is currently one of Kansas' top landmarks.