Heads up: some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you click and make a booking or purchase, I’ll make a commission (at no extra cost to you). I partner with companies I personally use and the $$ goes towards creating more awesome, free travel content.
Kansas is a state in the Midwestern United States. It is often called “the heart of America” because it’s in the middle of the country. Kansas is known for being flat, but there are some mountains in eastern Kansas. The state’s nickname is “Sunflower State” because of the wild sunflowers that grow there.
Kansas is known for several things that have helped shape its identity. One of the most significant aspects is its history as part of the Wild West, with famous figures like Wyatt Earp and notorious events like the Dodge City War.
Additionally, Kansas is widely recognized for its agricultural contributions, earning it the nickname “The Wheat State.” The state is home to vast fields of golden wheat and is one of the leading producers of grain in the entire country. Moreover, Kansas is known for its tornadoes, as it falls within Tornado Alley. The state’s unique weather patterns make it prone to severe storms and serve as a constant reminder of nature’s power.
Furthermore, Kansas is often associated with its iconic landmarks, such as the expansive Flint Hills, the stunning Tallgrass Prairie, and the historical Santa Fe Trail. These natural and historical treasures add to the appeal and fascination of the state.
Kansas is known for its wind.
Kansas is known for its wind. The plains of Kansas have a lot of open space, so the wind can move freely. The state uses this free energy to generate electricity and cool buildings in the summer.
Cattle production
Cattle production is a major industry in Kansas. The state is the largest beef producer in the United States and ranks second in the nation for number of cattle and calves. Kansas has over 7 million cattle and calves on farms, ranches, feedlots, processing plants and packing houses.
Wheat production
Kansas is the largest wheat producer in the United States and the world’s largest producer of winter wheat. In addition, Kansas is also home to some of the largest producers of hard red winter wheat, soft red winter wheat and durum (semolina) in North America.
Barbecue
Barbecue is a specialty of Kansas City, and it’s a tradition that has been carried down for generations. The history of barbecue in Kansas City dates back to 1873 when Henry Perry opened his first restaurant on West 11th Street, which was then called “Barbecue Row”. Perry had learned to cook over an open pit in North Carolina, before moving westward with his family. He became known as “The Barbecuer” because he cooked whole hogs over charcoal fires using sweet wood smoke (which imparts its own distinct flavor).
In 1880, Charles Woodard opened another barbecue restaurant called “Woodard’s” after receiving his training from Henry Perry himself. He later moved his business across the street where it still stands today as Oklahoma Joe’s Bar-B-Que & Steakhouse – one of Kansas City’s most famous BBQ joints!
Kansas Dirt Cake
Kansas Dirt Cake is a chocolate cake with a layer of chocolate frosting and crumbled gingersnaps on top. The dessert is also known as “Kansas Mud Cake.” It’s a popular dessert in Kansas.
Plains Indian tribes
The Plains Indian tribes were nomadic tribes that lived in the Great Plains of North America. They included the Comanche, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa and Pawnee. These people were known for their horsemanship and hunting skills.
The Great Plains is an area stretching from Canada down to Mexico and from Montana to Texas. It covers about half of the United States’ landmass and has a wide range of climates including hot summers with dry winters (semiarid).
Sunflower State
The sunflower is the official state flower of Kansas, and it has been since 1903. The sunflower was chosen because it’s one of the most recognizable plants in Kansas and has been grown there since early settlers first arrived on its land. As such, it’s become a symbol for the state as well as its people–people who believe in hard work and perseverance through tough times (like drought).
Wizard of Oz
In Kansas, we’re known for the Wizard of Oz. The 1939 musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is the best known film in the history of cinema and one of the most famous films ever made.
It tells the story of Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas who travels with her dog Toto to Munchkin Country after being swept away by a tornado. There she meets some unusual characters: Glinda the Good Witch; her friends Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion; as well as their enemies Wicked Witch Of The West & Flying Monkeys!
Oil Wells
The first oil well in Kansas was drilled near Medicine Lodge in 1892. It took three months and cost $100,000 to complete, but it produced 1,000 barrels of oil a day–a huge amount for that time period. This discovery prompted hundreds more wells to be drilled throughout the state, making Kansas one of America’s biggest producers of crude oil by 1895.
Wichita
Located in the center of the state, Wichita is the largest city in Kansas. It’s also known as “The Air Capital of the World,” which makes sense considering that it’s home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Cessna and Beechcraft.
Wichita has a population of 400,000 people and boasts many things to see and do including: museums; zoos; parks; aquariums; theaters; sports teams (including baseball); performing arts venues (including symphonies); museums; skateboard parks (for skating enthusiasts) etc…
Topeka
Topeka is the capital of Kansas, and it’s also home to Shawnee County. The city was founded in 1854, named after the Shawnee chief Topeka. The state’s only land-grant university, Washburn University, is located there as well.
Dodge City
Dodge City is a city in Ford County, Kansas, United States. The city is named after nearby Fort Dodge. It is situated in the southern region of the state, along Interstate 70.
Dodge City was established in 1872 as a cattle town on the Santa Fe Trail and served as a center for cowboys driving cattle north from Texas to railheads such as Abilene and Wichita. The original site of Fort Dodge was located within present day Dodge City’s downtown area at 17th Street & Avenue D (east side), where several historic buildings still stand today including: Hotel DeWitt (built 1871), Swope House (built 1872), Stables/Warehouse (1867), Jailhouse Museum & Heritage Center which houses artifacts from that era including an original Remington gun used by Wyatt Earp during his time spent here as well as exhibits about other famous lawmen who worked alongside him such as Bat Masterson and Bill Tilghman; all three men were known locally at various times throughout their lives while living here together but most especially during its heyday when they were working together closely enough that locals referred to them collectively simply by saying “those three boys”.
The first drive-in movie theater opened here in 1933–it cost $2 per person per carload! Today there are many restaurants offering barbecue dishes like ribs cooked over open flames instead of grills which gives them their unique flavor profile compared with other styles found elsewhere around America.”
Fort Scott
Fort Scott was established in 1842 as a military outpost, to protect settlers from Native American attacks. The fort was named after General Winfield Scott, who led troops during the Mexican-American War and later served as commanding general of the U.S. Army (1841-61).
The town of Fort Scott grew up around this important military outpost; today, it’s known for its historic buildings and museums that commemorate its past as well as its present role as an economic hub for surrounding communities such as Bourbon City and El Dorado Springs
The Flint Hills
The Flint Hills are a region of hills in north-central Kansas, United States, that are named for the flint found there. The Flint Hills stretch east to west across the state and rise to heights up to 1,000 feet above sea level; this area is known as “the heart of America”.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a U.S. National Preserve located in north-central Kansas, United States. It was established in 2000 and contains one of the largest remaining areas of unaltered tallgrass prairie in the United States.
Cosmosphere
Cosmosphere is a science museum in Hutchinson, Kansas. It’s the only one of its kind in the world. The Cosmosphere has over 50,000 artifacts and more than 5,000 space objects including a full-sized Soviet Vostok 3KA spacecraft that visitors can tour inside.
Cosmosphere also contains exhibits on related topics such as aviation history and earth sciences (including meteorites).
Sedgwick County Zoo
The Sedgwick County Zoo is a zoo located in Wichita, Kansas. It is the largest zoo in the state of Kansas and home to over 500 animals representing more than 150 species. The Sedgwick County Zoo has been open since 1977 and features exhibits ranging from tropical rainforests to desert landscapes with animals such as giraffes and zebras roaming freely throughout the grounds.
The zoo was founded by Dr. Richard Folsom who had previously run the Folsom Children’s Zoo at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas before moving back home where he opened up his own private animal park called “Children’s Petting Farm” which later became known as Kids Land Farm when it merged with another local attraction known as Butterfly World (now Butterfly Pavilion).
Botanica, The Wichita Gardens
Botanica, the Wichita Gardens is a botanical garden located in Wichita, Kansas. The gardens are open year-round and include the Mexican Pavilion, the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden.
Lindsborg “Little Sweden”
Lindsborg is a Swedish-American town in south central Kansas. It’s known for its Swedish heritage, and hosts an annual Swedish Days festival. Lindsborg also has the Svensk Hyllningsfest, which is an annual celebration honoring Scandinavian culture and traditions.
Strataca Salt Mine
The Strataca Salt Mine is a former salt mine located in Hutchinson, Kansas. It’s the world’s only underground museum and was first opened in 1965. The mine closed its doors in the 1980s due to low profits, but reopened as a tourist attraction in 2007 after being purchased by local investors who wanted to see it preserved as an educational resource for future generations of scientists and historians alike.
Monument Rocks
Monument Rocks is a series of rock formations located in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas. The area was named by the first European settlers to the area, who observed that the rocks resembled human figures and animals. Today, Monument Rocks is a popular destination for rock climbers, photographers and hikers alike.
Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd is an American actor and comedian. He’s best known for his comedic roles in films like Clueless, Wet Hot American Summer and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
Rudd was born in Passaic, New Jersey on April 6th, 1969 to Michael and Gloria Rudd. His father was a sports reporter on television while his mother worked as a real estate agent before becoming a full-time mom when Paul was young. The family moved around quite often due to Paul’s father’s job, but they eventually settled down in Newton Upper Falls near Boston Massachusetts where he attended Newton North High School where he first became interested in acting after joining the drama club there during his senior year (1986).
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart was a pilot and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She died in a plane crash in 1937. She was born in Atchison, Kansas.
Jason Sudekis
Jason Sudekis is a comedian, actor and writer who was born in Topeka, Kansas. He got his start on Saturday Night Live where he played characters like “Larry Flynt” and “Joe Biden.” He has appeared in several films including Ted 2 and Horrible Bosses 2. His television work includes roles on 30 Rock (as Lenny Wosniak), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (as Mikey), The Last Man on Earth (as Phil Miller) and The Grinder (as Stewart).
More reading: