When most people think of the Sunflower State, they may not think about things Kansas did first. As unfair as it is, we’re thought of as a flyover state without a lot of interesting features. However, there are some pretty cool things from Kansas! Our state is responsible for some important inventions that you see all the time, and there are plenty of milestones that can be traced back to our state. Today, we’re featuring some Kansas facts that have been recorded in history forever. See how many of these Kansas firsts you’re familiar with:

1. A Kansan invented rotary blade helicopters.
West Midlands Police/Flickr
Rex Maneval was born in Centralia in 1890. His family tragically passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning. To deal with his grief, he developed a love and obsession for mechanics. He ended up inventing the rotary blade helicopter in 1939. It took several tethered flights, but he was not fully confident in several aspects of his invention, so it never actually took a true flight. You can see the helicopter today at the Kansas Historical Society.
2. The country's first female mayor was elected in Kansas.
Franklin B Thompson/Flickr
In 1887, Argonia elected America's first female mayor in Susan Madora Salter. She was a member of the Prohibition party.
3. Kansas had the first red light district in the country.
Tangi Berth/Flickr
We all know about Amsterdam's famous red light district, but the term actually got its start in our very own Dodge City. The city's Red Light House was a saloon that ended up coining the term for Americans.
4. The first woman to get a pilot's license through the NAA was born in Kansas.
Underwood & Underwood/Wikimedia Commons
Amelia Earhart is perhaps the most famed pilot to ever live. She was born in Atchinson, Kansas in 1897.

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5. Amelia Earhart was also the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic.
Los Angeles Daily News/Wikimedia Commons
6. The first Pizza Hut was in Kansas.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Okay, so maybe this one hasn't been life-changing for most people, but it's not every state that starts a national craze! Dan and Frank Carney opened the first Pizza Hut restaurant in Wichita in 1958.
7. The first Black performer to win an Academy Award was born in Kansas.
Wikimedia Commons
Hattie McDaniel was a beloved singer and actress who was born in Wichita in 1893. She received an Academy Award for her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With The Wind. Her performance and recognition inspired many others to follow their dreams and become actors themselves.
8. The first fast food chain was from Kansas.
rocor/Flickr
The very first national hamburger chain was born right her in Kansas. Walt Anderson and Billy Ingram founded White Castle in Wichita in 1921. It became famous for its sliders, and the chain is still around today. Sadly, we don't have any White Castle restaurants in Kansas any longer.
9. ICEE slushies were invented in Kansas.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
What started as a very warm summer ended in an invention. Omar Knedlik was a Dairy Queen owner in Coffeyville whose cooler broke. He put his sodas in the freezer to keep them cool, and the beloved ICEE slushie was born. Isn't this the best summer treat?

Check out this great video of Amelia Earhart departing for her flight over the Atlantic:

Feeling nostalgic? Check out some of the first photos of Kansas that were ever taken! It’s so neat to look back at our state’s rich history.

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Lisa Sammons | June 02, 2023

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The world has a lot of things from Kansas to be grateful for! Here are a few of the best:

 

What are some more cool Kansas facts?

Kansas has a bad rap as a boring state, but if you live here, you know there are some cool Kansas firsts and interesting facts about Kansas.

  • Did you know Kansas produces more wheat than any other state?
  • By percentages, Kansas had one of the highest casualty counts of the Civil War.
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