First
published in The Emporia Gazette October 28, 2003
A BOOK TOUR OF KANSAS
by Cheryl Unruh
Interstate Highway 70 in Kansas seems rather straightforward.
But there could be more on the wide-open prairie than you had realized.
A new book by Ted Cable and Wayne Maley provides the play-by-play of the
milepost-by-milepost journey on I-70 through the state.
The book is called “Driving Across Kansas: A Guide to I-70.”
Near milepost 316, you might spot camels in the fields and bison near
milepost 235.
In the vicinity of Hays, you could meet a Volga-German or two, and a Czech
at Wilson (exit 206), the Czech capital of Kansas.
Near milepost 19, way out west, there’s a huge reproduction of one
of Vincent Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings. Easel and all, it stands
80 feet tall.
While the information is most beneficial for out-of-state travelers, it
includes details that many Kansans will find interesting.
The book first travels Interstate 70 from east to west, an uphill drive.
At the Missouri River, you will be 760 feet above sea level. By milepost
3.7, you’ve reached an elevation of 3,910 feet.
The second half of the book follows the mileposts from Colorado to Missouri,
repeating some information and adding new remarks.
“Driving Across Kansas” tells how various towns and counties
got their names. And, by the way, Oakley isn’t named for Annie.
Geology, wildlife, history and plants are mentioned. The book describes
Post Rock, the Konza Prairie, Osage orange trees, and blue Harvestore
silos. The authors talk about coyotes, railroads, sharks and wetlands.
The way it covers I-70 by the milepost, it reminds me of “Roadside
Kansas” a book that discussed geology along highways in the state.
“Roadside Kansas: A Traveler’s Guide to its Geology and Landmarks”
was written by Rex Buchanan and James McCauley. It follows nine U.S. highways
and interstates through Kansas, describing the geology mile by mile.
Another interesting Kansas book is one that my friend Jay Price recently
published on Wichita history, “Images of America: Wichita, 1860-1930.”
Jay is a history professor at Wichita State University. Although he has
lived in this state for only a few years, he has immersed himself into
the landscape and history of Kansas. This spring Jay appeared on the KTWU
show “Sunflower Journeys” and described roadside architecture.
Jay’s book is a photo album of Wichita’s early days. Images
and captions tell the city’s story and its evolution during those
70 years.
He begins with Native Americans, moves into the cowboy era, and then on
to business.
Photographs cover the social aspects: ethnic and religious groups, for
example. And there are pictures of town leaders and of buildings, commercial
and otherwise.
If you’d like to read about the fun aspects of this state, check
out Pam Grout’s “Kansas Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside
Oddities and Other Offbeat Stuff.”
Pam
Grout encounters more than 200 things to see and do in Kansas.
The author mentions a papier-mache art studio in Norton and the Rollin
Karg Art Glass gallery at Kechi.
In Salina, the Blue Heaven (recording) Studio is located in a gothic-style
church with great acoustics. Stained glass windows in the studio depict
jazz musicians.
Pam writes about peculiar yard sculptures, the world’s largest collection
of “Gone With the Wind” memorabilia, and Lawrence’s
annual art car parade, “Art Tougeau.”
The book describes underground tunnels in Ellinwood and the Clifton House
in Florence, which was one of the Harvey Houses along the Santa Fe Railroad.
Even if you don’t get out much, these books provide a tour of the
state and also a little time travel into Wichita’s past.
“Kansas Curiosities,” “Driving Across Kansas,”
and “Roadside Kansas” are available at the Emporia Public
Library and at the Town Crier Bookstore. “Kansas Curiosities”
is also available at the Americus Public Library. “Images of America:
Wichita, 1860-1930” can be ordered through Town Crier.
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