8 Wonders of Kansas
Mission: Visit all 216!
Top 8 in each category recognized with an asterisk.
THE 8 WONDERS OF KANSAS (the first overall contest)
Arikaree Breaks,
Ball of Twine,
Big Brutus, West Mineral
*Big Well,
Brookville Hotel,
*Castle Rock & Monument Rocks,
*Cheyenne Bottoms & Quivira National Wildlife Refuge,
Barton & Stafford counties
Cimarron National Grassland,
John Steuart Curry Murals, State Capitol,
*Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum,
Garden of Eden, Lucas
Keeper of the Plains,
*St. Fidelis Church, Victoria
St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Benedict
*Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve/Flint Hills,
ARCHITECTURE
Brown Mansion, Coffeyville
Historic Fox Theatre, Hutchinson
Attending a community dinner theater, Topeka
Bartlett Arboretum, Belle Plaine
*Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Canton
*Council Grove, Santa Fe Trail National Historic Landmark
Amazon Army, Crawford County
*Amelia Earhart, Atchison
Arthur Capper, Garnett, Topeka
Bernhard Warkentin, Newton, Halstead
*Buffalo Soldiers, Fort Leavenworth
Buster Keaton, Piqua
*Carry A. Nation, Medicine Lodge, Kiowa
Clyde V. Cessna, Rago, Kingman
Cyrus K. Holliday, Topeka
*Emil J. Kapaun, Pilsen
Frederick Funston, Iola
*George Washington Carver, Minneapolis, Beeler
Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence
Jack Kilby, Great Bend
*James Naismith, Lawrence
John Brown, Osawatomie
Joseph McCoy, Abilene, Wichita
*Martin & Osa Johnson, Chanute
Mary Ann "Mother" Bickerdyke, Bunker Hill, Ellsworth
Olive Ann Beech, Wichita, Waverly
Walter Chrysler, Ellis, Wamego
Walter Johnson, Humboldt, Coffeyville
*William Allen White, Emporia
William Inge, Independence
POST OFFICE SECTION ART
The following are Kansas post offices that still have their Section Art:
Anthony: Turning a Corner by artist Joe Jones, 1939, oil on canvas
Augusta: A Kansas Gusher by artist Donald Silks, 1940, oil on canvas
Belleville: Kansas Stream by Birger Sandzen, 1939, oil on canvas
Burlington: Boy and Colt by Robert Kittredge, 1942, stone
Caldwell: Cowboys Driving Cattle by Kenneth Evett, 1941, tempera
Council Grove: Autumn Colors by Charles B. Rogers, 1941, oil on canvas (partly covered)
Eureka: Cattle Roundup by Vance Kirkland, 1938, oil on canvas
Fredonia: Delivery of Mail to the Farm by Lenore Thomas, 1939, glazed terra cotta
Goodland: Rural Free Delivery by Kenneth M. Adams, 1937, oil on canvas
Halstead: Where Kit Carson Camped by Birger Sandzen, 1941, oil on canvas
Herington: Arrival of the First Train in Herington - 1885 by H. Louis Freund, 1937, oil on canvas
Hoisington: Wheat Center by Dorothea Tomlinson, 1938, oil on canvas
Horton: Picnic in Kansas and Changing Horses for the Pony Express by Kenneth Evett, 1939, oil on canvas
Hutchinson: Threshing in Kansas by Lumen Martin Winter, 1942, mural
Kingman: In the Days of the Cattlemen's Picnic by Jessie S. Wilbur, 1942, tempera
Lindsborg: Smoky River by Birger Sandzen, 1938, oil on canvas
Neodesha: Neodesha's First Inhabitants by Bernard J. Steffen, 1938, oil on wood
Oswego: Farm Life by Robert E. Larter, 1940, oil on canvas
Russell: Wheat Workers by Martyl Schweig, 1940, oil on canvas
Sabetha: The Hare and the Tortoise by Albert T. Reid, 1937, oil on canvas
Seneca: Men and Wheat by Joe Jones, 1940, oil on canvas
CHANGE IN STATUS
Columbus: R.F.D. by Waylande Gregory, 1940, sand sculpture. The sculpture has been moved from the post office and is now inside the community building at 320 E. Maple.
Fort Scott: Border Gateways by Oscar E. Berninghaus, 1937, oil on canvas. The post office still has the mural but it's not publicly accessible. They will show it to anyone that asks.
Olathe: The Mail Must Go Through by Albert T. Reid, 1940, oil on canvas. The mural hangs in a public area in the Olathe Public Library at 201 E. Park.
Salina: Land and Communication by Carl C. Mose, 1940, sculptures. Now located on the outside of the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron, the former post office building.
Wichita: Kansas Farming by Richard Haines, 1936, oil on canvas and Pioneer in Kansas by Ward Lockwood, 1936, oil on canvas. The post office building is now the Federal Courthouse at 401 N. Market Street. The murals are still in the lobby.
Information correct as of late 2010
ABILENE, Bankes Drug, 304 N. Broadway. 785.263.4330. Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 1920s seven-stool fountain with round mirror and 1972 Formica counter.
AGENDA, Hope Floats, 400 block of Railroad Street. 785.732.6595. Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Five-stool fountain with marble counter, back bar, and mirror.
ANTHONY, Irwin Potter Drug, 202 W. Main. 620.842.5119. Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 1968 11-stool fountain with u-shaped bar and Formica counter.
ARKANSAS CITY, Graves Drug, 212 S. Summit. 620.442.8317. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Ten-stool fountain is popular for lunch.
ATCHISON, Ball Brothers Healthmart, 504 Commercial. 913.367.0332. Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Seventeen-stool 1950s fountain and grill.
BELOIT, Perfect Pair, 100 S. Mill. 785.738.3000. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Six-stool fountain with marble counter and 1901 back bar and mirror.
BENNINGTON, The Linger Longer, 119 N.
Nelson. 785.820.6050. Monday-Friday 3-7 p.m.; Saturday 3-9 p.m. 1912
five-stool fountain with marble counter, back bar, and mirror. Syrups are
mixed using spigots.
CANEY, Gabby's Flea Market,
204 W. Fourth. 620.870.9123. Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 1-4
p.m. 1935 four-stool fountain with formica counter using spigots and
syrups.
CANTON, Soda n' Suds, 116 S. Main. 620.350.8006. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 4-8 p.m. 1939 seven-stool counter originally in Riley, Kansas.
CHANUTE, Cardinal Drug Store, 103 E. Main. 620.431.9150. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 1914 solid oak back bar with mirror, cabinets, and a 1937 Bastain-Blessing fountain with a marble countertop. Guests sit at ice cream tables and chairs.
CHETOPA, Riggs Drug, 426 Maple. 620.236.7272. Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Ten-stool 1920s soda fountain with back bar, mirror and Formica countertop.
CIMARRON, Clark Pharmacy, 101 S. Main. 620.855.2242. Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 1920s seven-stool fountain with tile counter and silver chrome spigots.
COUNCIL GROVE, Aldrich Apothecary, 115 W. Main. 620.767.6731. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 1920s six-stool fountain with tile and marble counter and working chrome spigots.
GARDEN CITY, Traditions Soda & Sandwich, 121 Grant Ave. 620.275.1998. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Seven-stool Formica counter. 1950s sign says three dips of ice cream were once 24 cents.
GARDNER, Gardner Pharmacy, 131 E. Main. 913.856.8106. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Modern back bar with mirror and marble counter. Five-stool fountain has original freezer, spigots, syrup rail, and sinks.
GLASCO, Hodge Podge, 113 E. Main. 785.568.2542. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-noon. 1932 six-stool fountain with back bar and mirror.
HAMILTON, Holmes Sundry, 101 E. Main. 620.678.3341. Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 6 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m. 1920s six-stool fountain with marble base, original syrup pumps, and spigots.
HAYS, Soda Shoppe, 800 Main, inside Northwestern Office Supply Store. 785.625.7323. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 1950s seven-stool fountain with Formica countertop. Lunch served here.
HERINGTON, Boelling Pharmacy, 2 W. Main. 785.258.3703. Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 1910-1915 six-stool fountain with back bar, mirror, and brass rail.
HOLTON, Koger Variety, 417 New York. 785.364.3321. Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 12-4 p.m. 1920s five-stool fountain with original tile counter and mirror.
HOWARD, Batson's Drug, 102 N. Wabash. 620.374.2265. Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Rebuilt in 1953. Eight-stool fountain with back bar, mirrors, and speckled Formica top.
INDEPENDENCE, The American Soda Fountain and Sandwich Shoppe, 205 N. Penn. Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturady 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 620.331.0604. 1930s fifteen-stool fountain with renovated Formica countertop. Lunch served here.
JOHNSON, The Old Store, 112 S. Main. 620.492.1478. Monday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 1950s four-stool Stanley Knight soda fountain with original 1920 oak back bar.
LEAVENWORTH, The Corner Pharmacy, 429 Delaware. 913.682.1602. Daily 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Victorian-era replica 15-stool fountain with mahogany bar and faux marble counter.
MARQUETTE, City Sundries, 104 N. Washington. 785.546.2234. Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 12-6 p.m. 1901 fountain with marble counter, back bar, and mirror. Three ice cream tables.
MERRIAM, Georgetown Pharmacy Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain & Espresso Shop, 5605 Merriam Drive. 913.362.0313. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Six stools date back to 1890 and the “bobtail” to 1930. The syrups and carbonation is add separately, no mixer is used. www.ghccusa.com.
NORWICH, Redz, 246 N. Main.
620.478.2401. Monday-Wednesday 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday 10:30
a.m.-7:30 p.m. Six-stools at a new counter but the back bar and mirror
date back to the early 1900s.
OSKALOOSA, Parker's
Pharmacy, 321 Jefferson. 785.863.2200.
Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 1950s nine-stool fountain.
QUINTER, Ray's Pharmacy, 414 Main. 785.754.3312. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-noon. A 13-stool 1948 fountain with a brass rail to rest your feet. The back bar and mirror dates back to 1904.
SABETHA, Sabetha Healthmart Pharmacy, 934 Main. 785.284.3414. Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m-1 p.m. Seven-stool Formica countertop with back bar and mirror.
SENECA, Cornerstone Coffee Haus, 5th and Main. 785.294.0924. Memorial Day-Labor Day Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.-5 p.m; Friday-Saturday 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; rest of year Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Eighteen stool 1950s double horseshoe counter.
SENECA, Rogers & Son Electric, Inc., 418 Main. 785.336.6505. Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Four stools, a glass case, and an original 1950s Coca Cola machine make up this fountain.
TOPEKA, Potwin Drug Store (within Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site), 124 NW Fillmore. 785.368.3888. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 12-4 p.m.; January-March Thurday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 12-4 p.m. Four-stool 1902 fountain with dark green marble counter and mirror.
WAKEENEY, Gibson Health Mart, N. Main. 785.743.5753. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nine-stool fountain with silver chrome spigots dating back to 1892 with a few renovations over time including a Formica countertop.
WESTMORELAND, Hoffman Pharmacy, 402 Main. 785.457.3611. Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday 8-11:30 a.m. 1950s fountain with Formica counter, eight-swivel stools, and authentic booths.
WICHITA, Jimmie's Diner, 3111 N. Rock Road. 316.636.1818. Sunday-Thursday 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5:30 a.m.-midnight. 1950s reproduction diner with fountain.
WICHITA, Old Mill Tasty Shop, 604 E. Douglas. 316.264.6500. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 1920s 11-stool fountain with marble counter, back bar, and brass foot rails.
Phone: 620-585-2374