Posted in Kansas Attractions, Small Towns July 04, 2017 by

It’s Impossible Not To Love The Most Eccentric Town In Kansas

You might think that all the artists in Kansas are gathered around the bigger cities, preferring to group together. However, that’s just not true. In fact, there are many eccentric towns in Kansas where you’ll find local art of all kinds. Most notable of them all is a little town called Lucas. You should check it out!

The city of Lucas, Kansas is a hubbub of quirky, eccentric art from beginning to end. Established in 1887, and features many separate pieces made by locals over the years.
Jennifer Jameson/Flickr
First on our list is S.P. Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden
Kansas Tourism/Flickr
After his time in the Civil War, Dinsmoor started working on the Garden in 1904 at the age of 64. Currently, he and his wife are buried there, but more than that, each and every piece tells a story unique to it.
Second is the Grassroots Art Center, where untrained artists of every age can display their eccentric works.
Kansas Tourism/Flickr
Here, you can see some of M.T. Liggett's political sculptures, as well as a car sculpture made by Herman Divers.
Another great artist of the area was Florence Deeble and her Rock Garden.
Kelly Ludwig/Flickr
After being asked to fill in the backyard pond, She took popular scenes from her travels and recreated them with concrete, stones, and rocks she'd picked up along the way. She'd watched the Garden of Eden built in the 1900s, and she was inspired, and so she built.
How many restrooms do you know of, off the top of your head? Known as "Bowl Plaza", this public restroom was voted the 2nd best in the U.S.
Ken Ratcliff/Flickr
Ken Ratcliff/Flickr
However, once you've seen the eccentric decorations in and around this little stop, you'll see why it's so popular. Shaped like a giant toilet bowl, the entirety of the inside is covered with shiny bits of all shapes and sizes. You'll feel like you're completing a game of I-Spy after looking through the mosaics here! In addition to it's usefulness, there's a guest book that's been signed by those of every state and 70 different countries.
Miller's Park (aka Rock City) is a great tiny town with a lot of character, making it a great gathering spot even during the 20's.
Lynae Zebest/Flickr
They used stones and shells gathered from travels in these pieces, which became a sort of traveler rest stop. The sculptures spent a small time in Hays, but have been returned to Lucas where they now sit, well taken care of.
Don't forget to visit the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things while you're here.
Lynae Zebest/Flickr
In addition to the curio collection, there's also a truck covered in animal depictions and dinosaurs melting to create the oil we need for fuel. Maybe they're making a statement?
No matter if you're an artist looking for inspiration or just a regular Kansan curious about this town, you'll be welcome here.
Lynae Zebest/Flickr

This is a great stop for any road trip! You should also consider checking out these other great Kansas attractions while you’re at it.

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Address: Lucas, KS 67648, USA