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Dodge City will host a Centennial Celebration of the historical 1914 Dodge City 300 Motorcycle Races. The week long celebration begins at 10 am on July 1 with opening ceremonies held in the band shell at Wright Park and various activities continue throughout the week with everything from blues concerts to antique races. The 1914 race, referred to as ‘one of the most significant motorcycle races in his-tory’, drew both riders and spectators from all over the country. Everyone wanted a first-hand look at the new ‘mechanical mar-vels’. More than 15,000 spectators gathered for a glimpse as the riders circled around and around the 2 mile dirt track until they completed the grueling 300 mile race to the fin-ish line. Manufactures from companies such as Pope, Flying Merkel, Indian, Thor and Harley Davidson were some of the companies represent-ed. Each hoped to prove to the country, through future sales, that their machine was the best. During that era the ‘prestigious Dodge City 300’ was considered the ‘biggest motorcycling racing event in America’. A true test of both ma-chine and rider as the average speeds reached 68mph. It required not only skill but also endur-ance of both machine and rider. On that histori-cal day more than 4 hours after the race started Glenn “Slivers” Boyd on the big 8 valve Indian

crossed the finish line first. Coming in for the sec-ond place position was Bill Brier riding a Thor and Carl Goudy astride an Excelsior was third. This year’s event is hosted by the newly formed Dodge City 300, Inc., a non-profit group. The week long line-up features Classic, Vintage and Custom bike shows, races, motorcycle trade show, lots of field events, Gypsy tours, concerts and vendors. There is a Juried Art “Painted Hel-mets” category and the Kansas Vietnam Veter-

ans “Welcome Home” at Wright Park, as well as Bikes & Breakfast at the VFW each morning. On Friday, July 4th the Centennial Celebration Mo-torcycle Races begin at the Rodeo Arena and the 4th of July fireworks display is that evening. On Sunday the 6th bike show awards will be given with the closing ceremonies at 4 p.m. For a full line-up of the week’s events go to: dodgecity300.org.

The start of the Dodge City 300 was a spectgacular site, an open car pacing the roaring filed of the nations best motorcycles and riders. The riders were national heroes from all across the country, brave young men racing at speeds over 1000 mph on these new mechanical marvels. Motorcycle Companies with names like Thor, Pope, Excelsior, Flying Merkel, more familiar Harley David-son and Indian, were in a battle for supremacy on the race track and ultimately in sales to eager buyers.

In this great photo by Lamar, CO photographer George Demas, you can almost see the smoke (really fluffy clouds) coming out of old engine number 1819 as it stands in front of the original

Lamar, Colorado Santa Fe Railroad station. The beautiful red brick station has been refurbished and is now a Colorado Welcome Center where folks can stop in and PICK UP FREE BRO-

CHURES AND INFORMATION ON VACATION DESTINATIONS ALL OVER COLORADO.

Pat Palmer from rural Lamar, makes a stop at the Colo-rado Welcome Center with his team of minature horses and wagon. (staff photo)Big Timbers Museum, 7515 U.S.

50 Scenic, Lamar, CO 81052

Koshare Indian Museum, 115 West 18th Street, La Junta, CO, 81050

Museum of Colorado Prisons, 201 North 1st Street, Canon City, CO 81212

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Colorado Welcome Center in Lamar - Free Brochures

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True West Magazine’s #1 True Western Town for 2014, Dodge City’s history is centered around the opening of the Santa Fe Trail, the arrival of the railroad and the cattle drives from Texas. Pres-ent day preservation efforts and promotion of that western heritage is what puts Dodge City at the top of the True West list. Historic Fort Dodge, located to the east of town, offered protection to wagon trains and served as a supply base during the Indian wars. The railroad brought more commerce to the area, making Dodge City a major shipping point for the cattle barons. To commemorate those cattle drives of the 1870s, a large bronze Texas Longhorn statue was erected. “El Capitan”, as he was named, greets visitors to the downtown as well as a statue of the legendary marshal, Wyatt Earp. At the Dodge City Free Zoo, visitors can view a real live longhorn. Visitors will want to take the downtown self-guided historical walking tour by following the sidewalk medallions on the ”Trail of Fame”. Don’t miss the old-fashioned Independence Day celebration in Dodge City. A day packed full of activities from a watermelon feed, to sack races, free live music and one of the largest fire-works displays in Western Kansas. Also during the week, Dodge City will host the World of Out-laws national sprint car racing and the 100th an-niversary of the Dodge City 300 motorcycle race with many events leading up to both races. Sat-isfy your need for speed! Dodge City Days, July 25-August 3, 2014 is a western-themed 10-day celebration. Events include the top-rated Dodge City Days Rodeo, professional barbecue contest, a western parade, classic car show, Kid Fest, arts and crafts show and so much more. The American Bus Associa-tion gives top honors to Dodge City Days for group friendly events for more than eight years running. Boot Hill Museum strives to preserve the history of Dodge City through restorations, vi-sual programs and interpreted exhibits. The museum is on the grounds of the original Boot Hill cemetery. At ‘high noon’, visitors are treated to a gunfight reenactment. Have a sarsaparilla at the Long Branch Saloon and stick around to watch the Variety Show with Miss Kitty & the Can Can Girls. Show runs from Memorial weekend through mid-August.

The Wild West theme is carried out at the Boot Hill Casino & Resort, offering visitors the highest level of comfort, service and entertainment. Re-cently expanded to include 800 slots, 18 gaming tables and 5 poker rooms, there is plenty of casi-no action for everyone. The restaurant offers fine dining as well. Select motels around town offer transportation to and from the casino. Right next door to the Casino is the United Wireless Arena. This indoor event center offers sports, concerts, luxury suites, conventions and meeting rooms. United Wireless Arena is home to the new Dodge City Law professional indoor arena football team. This hard-hitting, action-packed team has brought excitement and enthu-siasm for the sport to Dodge City. Located to the south is the Western State Bank Expo Center offering a variety of new and excit-ing events as well as the annual 3i Show, one of the largest agriculture shows in North America. Check out the Gunfighters Wax Museum and Teachers Hall of Fame and tour Historic Fort Dodge. Step out on the Santa Fe Trail tracks, then visit the Home of Stone or the Windthorst Church. View the architecture and exhibits of the Carnegie Center for the Arts and visit the new

2nd Avenue Art Guild, offering original art work by regional artists. Take a one-hour narrated Trolley Tour to many historic sites. The historic, restored Santa Fe Depot once housed the famed Harvey House and Restaurant, now offering daily tours and an opportunity to see first-rate dinner theater productions. Liberty Garden, located in Wright Park, is designed to commemorate the tragedies of Sep-tember 11, 2001. Historical memorabilia are on exhibit for the public along with a piece of lime-stone from the façade of the Pentagon, transport-ed to the garden by the Dodge City Patriot Guard Riders. There also is a piece of sandstone from the hemlock grove next to the United Flight #93 crash site in Pennsylvania, donated by the Na-tional Parks Service. Dodge City Raceway Park with its 3/8-mile dirt track hosts thousands of racing fans each season and boasts an impressive racing sched-ule. There are featured events such as the Na-tional Sprint Tour, World of Outlaws, Midgets and Winged Sprints. For more information on events and at-tractions in Dodge City, call 800-653-9378 (1-800-OLD-WEST)

LIVE THELEGEND OFTHE WEST

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Liberal, in Southwest Kansas, still honors its early friendly and hospitable beginnings of making visitors feel welcome. Before Liberal was a town, it was known as the place of the “Liberal Well.” Travelers crossing the country would stop at the well of pioneer S. S. Rogers, for free water rather than pay the fee charged by other ranchers in the area. The name was shortened to Liberal, and it stuck. Today Lib-eral offers more than just a cool drink. Visi-tors can find a variety of things to do includ-ing museums, an arts center and attractions open year-’round as well as a water park, golf and semi-pro baseball team in the summer. The Liberal Bee Jays are a five-time na-tional champion semi-pro baseball team. Ten miles northeast, off Highway 54, is the Arkalon Wildlife Area, known for its birding. The park also offers campsites for RV’s and tents, trails, playground and fishing. Travel a few miles fur-ther northeast to the 1,269 foot railroad bridge, “Mighty Samson of the Cimarron”. Built in 1939, it was considered an engineering marvel of its day and was a finalist in the 8 Wonders of Kan-sas Architecture contest sponsored by the Kan-sas Sampler Foundation. For those who want to visit wide open spaces, Cimarron National Grasslands, Clark State Lake and Meade State Park Wildlife Area are all within an easy drive. The Coronado Museum offers a collection of items dating back to 1541 when Don Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and 36 soldiers entered what is now Southwest Kansas on their quest to find the fabled “Seven Cities Of Gold.” A Span-ish horse bit, left behind by the group, is on per-manent display at the museum. An 8’ bronze statue of Coronado welcomes guests as they turn off Pancake Boulevard. Exhibits used in the set-tlement of the Kansas Territory during its Wild West days are on display, as well as those pay-ing tribute to the culture of the Native American Indians. The museum hosts special exhibits and traveling exhibits featuring artifacts of other mu-seums. Admission is free. Call: 620-624-7624. Mid-America Air Museum displays more than 100 aircraft and is one of the country’s finest aviation exhibits. It is the largest aviation museum in Kansas and the fifth largest in the nation. An interactive educational resource, it is

dedicated to preserving flight history through historically significant aircraft and artifacts, educational exhibits and public programs. A self-guided tour gives visitors a chance to see one of the smallest ever ‘Air Force One’ planes, used by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Celebrat-ing Kansas’ rich aviation history, the museum was a finalist in the 8 Wonders of Kansas History contest. Admission. Call: 620-624-5263. Named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Cus-toms, Dorothy’s official hometown of Liberal celebrates clicking your heels three times and saying “There’s no place like home” at Dorothy’s House, a 1907 farmhouse, and the Land of Oz. Guides, sometimes dressed as Dorothy, escort visitors through the house and the 5,000 square feet of entertainment in the Land of Oz. At the end of the tour Oz movie memorabilia, includ-ing the original model of Dorothy’s house used in the 1939 filming of the “The Wizard of Oz,” is on display. Admission. Contact: 620-624-7624. The Baker Arts Center gallery features local and regional artists as well as national traveling exhibits. A national juried art show is held an-nually. The educational studio is available for workshops and art classes. Guests are encour-aged to browse through the extensive art library. Throughout the year the Center sponsors mu-sical and theatrical productions. The French Market and Night of Lights are annual fundrais-ing events. Free admission. Call: 620-624-2810. Visitors can join the festivities for the “Inter-national Pancake Race” on Shrove or Fat Tues-day. Women from Liberal compete with women in Olney, England, racing down the street with skillet and pancake in hand. Times of the win-ners of each race are compared during a live web chat and the international winner is an-nounced. Activities continue throughout the day starting with a pancake breakfast and conclud-ing with a parade. Other attractions are three golf courses, Ad-venture Bay Family Water Park, bowling alley, miniature golf and six screen movie theater. Be sure to see the World’s Largest Book on the front of Memorial Library in Liberal. The origi-nal entrance to the library was through the book. While at the library check out the Little Sister of Liberty. This tiny replica is only 8 1/2 inches tall.

These replicas were created by the Boy Scouts of America to celebrate their 40th anniversary theme of Strengthen the Arm of Liberty. In 1949 through 1950 approximately 200 replicas were made and donated to 39 states. Twenty-six of the little ladies resided in Kansas. Liberal holds several special events throughout the year. Contact: www.visitliberal.com, 800-542-3725 or tourism@cityofliberal.org.

Kismet-Little World’s Fair On Labor Day Weekend, the ‘Little World’s Fair’ is held in Kismet. This small town, 20 miles east of Liberal on Highway 54, puts on a really big celebration. Truly a family event, the fair is sponsored by the Kismet Lions Club. The weekend often includes a horseshoe tour-nament, turtle races, bicycle races, sand vol-leyball, water balloon toss, street dance, parade, 5-K/10-K run, sack races, and a pedal tractor pull was well as other fun events. Fairgoers will want to be there for the free ham and bean feed at noon on Labor Day and stay for the many family friendly activities in the afternoon.

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The Finney County Historical Society Muse-um, located at the entrance to the Lee Richardson Zoo, features permanent, rotating and traveling historical exhibits, as well as a large research library. Always available are tours of the 1884 home of founding father William Fulton and the 1890’s one-room schoolhouse. Free admission. For special activities and program schedule call: 620-272-3664 Located in Finnup Park, is the “world’s largest outdoor hand dug concrete municipal swimming pool”. Larger than a 100-yard football field, the pool has water slides, abundant shade umbrellas and a renovated bathhouse. Added last year was the new “Spray-ground.” Admission. Garden City’s Lee Richardson Zoo, with over 300 animals representing 110 species, attracts visitors from around the globe. This diverse col-lection of wildlife is housed in clean well cared for habitats. Visitors can walk through the beau-tifully landscaped zoo free or for a minimal fee, drive through. Look for the blue phone emblem on the informative signage, then use your cell phone to dial the number to take an audio tour. Follow the intermingled pathways through the large shade trees to see the young otters at play, and in Wild Asia check out the snow leopards. Be sure to visit the aviary and the monkeys, bears, elephants and giraffes as well as the many other species through the spacious zoo. Some special fundraising events are the annual ‘Wild Affair’, ‘Blues at the Zoo’ as well as the children’s favorite, ‘Boo at the Zoo’. Be sure to check out the newest addition: “Cat Canyon” exhibit in late summer. Call: 620-276-1250 or visit www.garden-city.org Beef Empire Days is an annual celebration of the beef industry. The fun begins May 30 through June 8. Established to highlight and promote pro-duction and quality of beef, the event has grown into a festival for everyone. Events include a pa-rade, carnival and rodeo, and fun-filled activities for children. Some events require admission: call: 800-879-9803. For over 20 years the 4th weekend of August brings the Tumbleweed Festival to the west end of Lee Richardson Zoo. Promoted as ‘quality family

entertainment’ with local, national and interna-tional musicians and entertainers, the two main stages have something going on throughout the day. In addition to the various name entertainers, a huge tent offers lots of hands-on arts and crafts for children. On the children’s stage, storytellers, musicians, puppeteers and magic shows are fea-tured. Admission. Kansas Riverless Festival features balloonists from over six states to kick off the popular event set for September 20-22. The Riverless Festival weekend is packed full of excitement. Visitors are invited to enjoy the music, food, children’s events and barbecue cook-off contest. Newly added this year are a concert and a gun show. As dawn breaks on Saturday and Sunday morning watch for the colorful balloons looming overhead - and be sure to attend the Saturday evening balloon glow. Contact: 620-276-0607. Downtown Vision Association has many varied activities planned for this year. Stores stay open the Third Thursday each month. A new theme is chosen for each month’s activities. Often there are snacks and entertainment provided. FallFest

2014 features Sandhills Art Association’s ‘Art in the Park’ and Knights of Columbus ‘Oktoberfest’. The fun begins at 9 a.m., September 20th. Street vendors set up along Main Street while art exhibi-tors are scattered throughout beautiful downtown Stevens Park. Contact: 620-276-0891. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks manages the oldest publicly owned bison herd in Kansas at the Sandsage Bison Range and Wildlife Area. Guided tours by appointment only: 620-276-9400. Southwest Kansas Pro-Am golf tournament is a charity event for St. Catherine Hospital. Starting August 6-10th at Buffalo Dunes and Southwind golf courses, some of the finest golf courses in the state. Professionals are teamed up with local golfers. Contact: 620-272-2530. Along with the Garden City Classic a symetra tournament is held September 11-13, 2014. For more information call 800-879-9803. Garden City hosts many events throughout the year: livestock shows, dog shows, concerts, mon-ster trucks and other festivals. For a current list of events, maps for a self-guided historic walking or driving tour or other information contact: 800-879-9803. www.finneycountycvb.com

Visit Garden City, Kansas.It’s Worth the Trip!

Finney County Convention & Visitors Bureauwww.finneycountycvb.com • 620-276-0607 • 800-879-9803

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Lake Scott State Park is a hidden oasis, full of rich history and beautiful scenery. One can enjoy boating, swimming, camping, hiking, hunting and fishing. Visitors also can reserve one of two cabins. The park includes two historical sites. The Steele Home Museum was the home of the Herbert Steele family, and has been pre-served much as it was 100 years ago. El Quar-telejo Indian Pueblo is the 1664 reconstructed pueblo ruins of the Taos Indians, who were flee-ing Spanish rule, and later used by Picurie Indi-ans in 1701. The present site allows visitors to see the pueblo’s foundation.

The theme of El Quartelejo Museum is to lead the visitor through a developing story line, one which traces the history of this region of Western Kansas through the stories told by the fossil dis-coveries on exhibit to present day Scott County information. The ‘must see’ displays allow the visitor to take a glimpse of what life would have been like in the early Native American & Pioneer history. Separate displays are set up in several different rooms, and rotating exhibits change often, which include antique farm machinery, along with horse-drawn buggies from the early 1900s. There are many more exhibits that will stir your intellect and stimulate your imagina-tion. From young children to their grandparents, there is something for everyone to enjoy. At the Jerry Thomas Gallery and Collection, prepare yourself to be taken on a journey into the history, wildlife and beauty of the old west. The gallery is home to a beautiful array of origi-nal artwork by world renowned artist Jerry D. Thomas. Visitors also will be entertained by the fascinating and beautiful collection of Western Heritage items & artifacts, including items actu-

ally used by Jerry in the creation of his paint-ings. The collections include Native American, Civil War, Indian War and cowboy trail items. The Jerry Thomas Gallery and Collection is a popular destination for western art and wildlife enthusiasts, especially those who appreciate the stories and memorabilia of the Old West. The last Indian battle in Kansas was fought on September 27, 1878 at Punished Woman’s Fork. It is about one mile south of Lake Scott State Park. A monument overlooks the cave, canyon, and the bluffs where the Northern Cheyenne hid waiting to ambush the U.S. Cavalry. To this day, this his-torical site gives evidence of the fierce battle that took place, with the rifle pits the Cheyenne stra-tegically positioned still visible on the hilltops. Take a ride on the wild side with a buffalo tour! Get up close and personal with one of the most magnificent animals ever created. Duff’s Buffalo Tours gives tours you won’t soon forget on the back of a flatbed trailer in the midst of a

great buffalo herd! Experience Keystone Gallery, where you can view an extensive collection of local Kansas fos-sils, including a 20’ Mosasaur, 14’ Xiphactinus and a 24’ mural depicting the seaway that once covered the area. This 1917 historic building was constructed using native stone. U.S. and Interna-tional fossils, rock and mineral specimens, and a cool gift shop with Monument Rocks souvenirs, the Gallery overlooks the Smoky Hill River val-ley, with a view of Monument Rocks and chalk outcroppings of the “Badlands of Kansas” region. View the breath-taking Monument Rocks, also known as the Chalk Pyramids. The natural formations are 18 miles north of Scott City, then turn east after visiting Keystone Gallery. These limestone formations stretch to 50 feet in height. Monument Rocks alsohas been chosen as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas. The quiet beauty and scale of the Monument Rocks will be a lifetime memory.

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At Exit 53 & I-70, the Colby Visitor Center is built around a grain bin, which is part of the fa-cility and used as a photo gallery. Colby, referred to as ‘Oasis on the Plains,” is just 53 miles east of Colorado, located on the High Plains of North-west Kansas. The original county seat of Thomas County, it was laid out in 1885 and named after J. R. Colby, one of the oldest settlers in the county. Today’s progressive community of cultural, com-mercial, medical and educational facilities shows

visitors a friendliness and western hospitality, as well as interesting places to visit. The Prairie Museum of Art and History mu-seum complex covers 24 acres and is the site of 1930’s farmstead, a sod house, one-room school and the Lone Star church. The Cooper Barn, largest barn in Kansas (114’ x 66’ v 48’) now houses the exhibit, “Prairie Grasses to Golden Grain” featuring farm implements, vehicles and photographs depicting the history of agriculture during the past century. The cavernous upper level is used for social activities. The main mu-seum building was added in 1988. Surrounded by a berm of buffalo grass, this unique build-ing houses over 28,000 artifacts collected from around the world by Nellie Kuska, a former Col-by resident. Textiles, furniture and antiques, as well as a very rare doll collection are just a small part of the exhibits. Thomas County archives are

also located in this building. Built in 1906, the Thomas County Courthouse is listed on the National Registry of Historic Plac-es. The architectural Renaissance Revival style features extensive period woodwork. Of notable interest is the Seth-Thomas eight-day, one hour

strike movement clock with a 1,000 pound bell. Purchased for $12,000, and facing all four direc-tions, the clock was installed in the tower in August 1907 and is still working today. At the entrance is the statue, “Spirit of the Prairie” by artist Char-lie Norton. This was a Centennial project funded with donations of the people of Thomas County.

The Northwest Kansas Research-Extension Center, a division of KSU, features a unique op-portunity for photographers. Here, visitors will find crops, trees and flowers. Colby is also host to the annual “Pickin’ on the Plains” Bluegrass Festival, each July at the Thom-

as County fairgrounds. Nationally, known bands gather for the pleasure of Bluegrass fans. Visitors also will want to attend the Thomas County Fair in July. Fair activities include a parade, carnival, BBQ and rodeo. Visit www.oasisontheplains.com for more in-formation.

The Oasis on the Plains!Colby Visitor CenterPrairie Museum of Art & HistoryKansas Biggest Barn

OasisonthePlains.com

Exit 53 & 54 on I-70

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The historic Chestnut Street District, located in downtown Hays, offers unique art galleries, retail stores, upscale restaurants and quaint spe-cialty shops. Here, visitors glimpse life in a sim-pler time. Also at the heart of the community is an award-winning brewery as well as various art studios. Home to the oldest arts council in the state of Kansas, the members have played a dom-inate role in fostering and encouraging the arts in the Hays community. The Arts Council sponsors Gallery Walks, and is home to several talented artists and their studios. The Wild West Festival, held each July, pays tribute to veterans. This old-fashioned Indepen-dence Day Celebration is filled full of fun events. Name bands present county and rock ‘n’ roll concerts. Fishing contests, parade, a carnival, lots of food and a children’s activity center are just a few of the exciting things happening during this festival. And one of the largest fireworks displays in Western Kansas completes the celebration. Ad-mission. Call: 800-569-4505. Ellis County Historical Society Museum has a replica of a traditional limestone home of the Vol-ga German settlers, and harness and shoemaking shops are on display. The Volga German settlers were perhaps the most notable of those coming to America from the Volga River Valley in Russia. Other artifacts depicting the history of the early towns, include saddles from the local and area ranches, as well as items from the frontier sa-loons. The railroad was necessary in the growth of early Hays, when it crossed tribal grounds. The museum has many railroad artifacts from that period, and has a hands-on area in the Learning Center for children. 785-628-2624. Historic Fort Hays Museum has the original blockhouse, guardhouse and officers quarters for visitors to view. Built for protection of those trav-eling the Smoky Hill Trail, they offer a look into the past. Artifacts and photographs offer a look at early day pioneers and military history. Historic Fort Hays completed a brand new ‘face lift’ in 2010 featuring interactive displays, new informa-tive videos and interpretive ironwork throughout

the grounds. Call: 785-625-6812. The Sternberg Museum features both perma-nent and revolving exhibits, from mammoths to arrowheads. The museum is rich with natural history of the Hays area and visitors are encour-aged to visit the hands-on Discovery Room. You will want to see the world-class fossil collection from a time when Kansas was covered by the Cre-taceous sea. Many of the museum’s specimens, more than 3 million, are used for research. There is a replicated chalk cave and the permanent dis-play of the “fish-within-a-fish” exhibit, discov-ered in 1952 by George F. Sternberg. Currently on display is the temporary exhibit “Titans of the Ice Age: When Big was Cool”. It will be on exhibit through December 14, 2015. This exhibit was developed and tailored to compare and con-trast the mammals who roamed the world dur-ing the Ice Age, and the mammals who roam the planet now. You are invited to come in to see the differences that you can spot between the animals. This is a rare chance to learn what caused the ice age and extreme temperature changes, how these an-cient animals reached their massive sizes, and what caused the demise of the Pleisto-cene Megafauna (“large animals”). Admission. Call: 785-628-4286 Fountains, leisure pool, water spraying toys, diving boards and challenging slides at the Hays Aquatic Park, provide a day of enjoyment to all. The

580-foot lazy river wanders through the park and ends in a lagoon area. This beautifully land-scaped park offers many hours of summer fun. Admission. Call: 785-628-2653 Known as the “Cathedral of the Plains,” St. Fidelis church, located in nearby Victoria, Kansas was named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas in 2008. Built in the early 1900s it holds a place as a building of ‘architectural significance’ in the National Register of Historic Places. Parishioners hauled the post rock limestone from a quarry nearby using a team of horses and wagon. The “Cathedral of the Plains” is a favorite of visitors from all over. Information is available for self-guided tours; famous churches of the area, a walking tour of the Historic Downtown Chestnut Street District, Smoky Hill Trail Tour and Historic Sites Driving Tour. Call: 800-569-4505.

~shopping~dining~adventure

www.haysUSA.net • 800.569.4505for great deals visit

big time fun!small town charm

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“Hispanics and the Road to Santa Fe” will be the theme for the Rendez-vous 2014 history seminar to be held in Larned, KS on September 18 – 20. The seminar is sponsored by the Santa Fe Trail Center, Fort Larned National Historic Site and the Santa Fe Trail Association. Primary funding is pro-vided by the Kansas Humanities Council. This year’s theme will examine the interaction and blending of cultures that occurred along the Trail, with particular focus on how the Hispanic culture was affected, as well as how the Hispanics influenced other cultures. As part of this event the Wet/Dry Routes chapter of the Santa Fe Trail As-sociation will be dedicating the Facundo Melgares monument opening night. The monument is in honor of the Facundo Melgares military expedition of 1806. Friday afternoon will feature a field trip to the actual historic site of the murder of Don Antonio Jose Chavez. Afterward, a descendant of Chavez will give a presentation about the murder and its significance to the Trail. “Our Friend Melgares’: Spaniards and Mexicans and the Santa Fe Road” will be presented by Leo Oliva, as the program after dinner the opening night. Dr. Oliva will be discussing the expedition of Lt. Facundo Melgares and his Spanish troops from New Mexico to the Great Plains. This program will provide further insight into the Melgares memorial dedicated earlier in the evening. Other sessions will pertain to Mexican Trade, the intermarrying of white traders and Mexican women, as well as how these events affect Hispanic migration today.

Friday afternoon there will be a bus tour to Lyons, KS. We will be visit-ing the memorial which commemorates the murder of Antonio Jose Chavez, who was a Hispanic trader killed along the Trail. After a brief stop at the memorial we will continue to Coronado Quivira Museum in Lyons. The mu-

seum has some artifacts related to the murder in its collections. While at the museum, Anthony Juarez, a descendant of Chavez will give a presentation about his ancestor. Friday night’s program will be Van Ann Moore as Dona Tules. This first person portrayal will follow dinner at the Larned Community Center. The last day of the seminar we will reconvene at the Larned Community Center for speakers, followed by lunch and afternoon activities at the Fort and dinner in the historic Quartermaster’s Storehouse. Saturday’s dinner program will feature Dr. David Sandoval’s presentation over the Hispanic military. For more information on Rendezvous 2014 and a registration form, con-tact the Santa Fe Trail Center at 620-285-2054, visit us online at www.san-tafetrailcenter.org, the Santa Fe Trail Association website www.santafetrail.org or e-mail us at museum@santafetrailcenter.org.

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Embark on an adventure that is truly out-of-this world. For over 50 years, the Kansas Cosmos-phere and Space Center has been honoring the history of space exploration and inspiring future generations with passion, dedication and innova-tion. “I am proud to have such a unique facil-ity in my home state… It is my belief that the Cosmosphere can provide the spark that in-spires our next generation of leaders and vi-sionaries who will do the difficult and pio-neering things that make a nation great.” - Steve Hawley, Ph.D., Shuttle Astronaut (STS-41D in 1984, STS-61C in 1986, STS-31 in 1990, STS-82 in 1997 and STS-93 in 1999), di-rector of Engineering Physics and adjunct profes-sor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kansas, and proud Kansan.

Your journey begins as soon as you approach the building, flanked by two towering rockets: the Titan II and Redstone. Enter the lobby, where a majestic, flown SR-71 Blackbird spy plane soars overhead, frozen in flight, flanked by a T-38 Talon and full-scale replica of the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Customize your adventure with tickets to our attractions: Take a trip through time and space in the world-renowned Hall of Space Museum, fea-turing the largest collection of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world, including Liberty

Bell 7, the Apollo 13 command module, Odyssey and a full-scale Lunar Module and Apollo White Room – to name just a few of the stunning arti-facts on display; Transport yourself into the action in the Carey Digital Dome Theater, showing enter-taining educational documentaries every day, featuring stunning clarity and depth of picture with a state-of-the-art 4K digital projector on a two-story dome that wraps you into a fully im-mersive experience. Staying for the weekend? How about a movie night? Hollywood feature films are even more thrilling on the dome! (See cosmo.org for current features and showtimes.) Blast off to Dr. Goddard’s Lab, where your family will be thrilled and amazed by explosive science demonstrations while learning about the history of modern rocketry.

Explore the mysteries of the universe in the Justice Planetarium. With an all-day Mission Pass, our best value, enjoy all four venues, plus a ride on the naviGATOR simulator, in one day! Enhance your visit even further with cosMOBILE – an audio/visual tour – available on mobile devices and desktop computers at cosmospheretour.org Since its humble beginnings in 1962, when Patty Carey founded the Cosmosphere with nothing but a star-ball and a dream, visitors from across the globe have come to Hutchinson to discover the amazing history and explore the thrilling future of the space program. Whether it’s a trip down memory lane, or you’re introducing the next generation to the wonder of space for the first (or hundredth) time, there is something at the Cosmosphere to delight and inspire explorers of all ages. Find your inspiration, ignite your curios-ity, and capture YOUR moment in space at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.

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52 T E R R I TOR I A L M AGA Z I N E MAY, JUNE & JULY 2014

Junction City, known as the “Home-town of Fort Riley” has numerous his-toric locations. It is located in the “Heart of the Kansas Flint Hills.” A place where historic adventures and outdoor experi-ences await those who travel to Junction City and Geary County. One of the first things you will notice is the use of lime-stone. Some say the downtown area of Junction City has some of the best lime-stone structures in all of Kansas. You will also find Junction City limestone in To-peka, our state capitol. When you use the new underground parking at the Kansas State Capitol and enter the building on the ground level, be sure to notice the native Kansas limestone. It is from the Junction City area. During the summer, “Play ball” can be heard at historic Rathert Stadium. Recently renovated, the original 1930’s structure is now the home of the Junc-tion City Brigade baseball team, Junction City high school Bluejays and the Junc-tion City American Legion ball teams. Starting in June, visitors have the chance to take in a game. Memorials and statues are scattered throughout Heritage Park, located at 6th St. and Washington St. Visitors can view the Civil War Arch, State of Kansas Viet-nam Veterans Memorial, Desert Storm Memorial and the Junction City/Geary County Law Enforcement Memorial. One block from the park, at the cor-ner of 7th St. and Jefferson St. is the C. L. Hoover Opera House. Built in 1882, a recent multi-million dollar renovation has once again made the C. L. Hoover Opera House the “Jewel on the Prairie”, where live theater and performing arts take center stage. Discover the history of the 9th and 10th Buffalo Soldier Regiments. The Buffalo Soldier Memorial depicts a Buf-falo soldier preparing to mount his horse. Located at 6th St. and Adams St. is

the Geary County Historical Museum. In 1904 to 1929, it served as the high school. Special galleries and displays feature the history of early day pioneer life. There is a depository for family and communities histories in the Jeffries Research Cen-

ter and an extensive collection of 1800’s newspapers, as well as vintage photos. Nearby Fort Riley, the ‘Home of the 1st Infantry Division’, offers visitors a true look at military life from the 1800s to now. You can visit the 1st Territorial Capitol of Kansas, U.S. Cavalry Museum, Custer House, First Infantry Division Museum and many static displays of old military vehicles. A valid driver’s license is required to enter the post. Many species of birds and waterfowl are found in the scenic Flint Hills. In ad-dition to birds, the wildlife is plentiful and not hard to see. Located to the east of Junction City on McDowell Creek Rd. is KONZA Prairie. KONZA has three trail systems, varying in length from 2.5 miles to 6 miles. Pets are not allowed on the trails but be sure to bring your camera. To the northwest of Junction City is Mil-ford Lake. It is the largest lake in the state and known as “The Fishing Capital of Kansas.” Anglers can catch bass, catfish, walleye, crappie, wipers and whitebass. With its open water and sandy beaches, it’s a great place for boaters and jet-ski-ers. Below the dam is the Milford Nature

Center and Fish Hatchery. On the east side of the lake is one of the largest mo-torcycle and ATV off-road areas in Kan-sas. For those looking to camp or spend the night, plenty of RV sites are located around the lake as well as cabins. Junction City and Geary County – It Is That Good! For a free 2014 Visitor Information Packet about the history, outdoors and special events, contact the Junction City/Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800.528.2489 Extension 53.

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T E R R I TOR I A L M AGA Z I N E 53MAY, JUNE & JULY 2014

Looking for a unique historical experience for a retreat, reunion, meet-ing, wedding reception, anniversary or other memorable event? Consider the beautiful historic George Smith Reception Hall located in the historical district of Junction City, Kansas. Original to the building, which was built in 1907 and used as the public library, the grand staircase and golden oak pillars offer the perfect setting for your event. George Smith was born in Canada and came to the United States before the Civil War. He became an investor and local property owner. He never married, and upon his death in 1905, gave his entire estate of $75,000 for the purpose of building a library for the people of Junction City. His estate also purchased 4,000 volumes for the shelves of the library. It was con-structed by Ziegler Brothers for a total cost of $32,198. Mr. Smith specified that the rent for the bottom floor business was to pay for the operation of the library, which it did until 1944. The grand staircase and golden oak pillars are original to the building, as is the library circulation desk and balcony area. It is our hope to share this historical structure with you. It is available to rent for receptions, meet-ings, seminars, training sessions, coffees, teas or other events.

The Junction City Opera House opened in 1882 through the initiative of local citizens to bring cultural events, otherwise only rarely encountered in the Midwest. In 1942, a full renovation transformed the Opera House into a modern movie theater. It was renamed The Colonial and showed motion pictures until it closed in 1982. In 2003 the Opera House was placed on the State Historic Register and plans were made to renovate this cultural trea-sure. In 2008 the newly renovated building, renamed the C. L. Hoover Opera House, opened to the public after a seven million dollar restoration. Although the building retains the name “opera house” – a nod to a by-gone era – today’s C. L. Hoover Opera House is a modern, vibrant cultural landmark, home to all of Junction City and Geary County’s arts agencies. Any day of the week will find the venue teeming with performing and vi-sual arts as well as educational, cultural and civic activities. The 2014-’15 0Performance Season offers a variety of top-notch performances – country & western, cabaret, children’s programming and community events – and the 424-seat theater offers an intimate concert-going experience few theaters can match. For information on all events at the C. L. Hoover Opera House, call us at 785-238-3906 or visit online at www.jcoperahouse.org.

Aug 9Scott HelmerSee this up-and-coming country/westernsinger �rst at the Opera House!Oct 14Ali Sperry & The Family Vacation

135 W. 7th Street • Junction City, Kansas • 785-238-3906

2014 Country

www.jcoperahouse.org

Nashville-based contemporary country

Oct 26Shaun HopperAcoustic southern “�ngerstyle” guitar

Dec 20Barry Ward - A Cowboy ChristmasCelebrate the season with a true cowboy

& Western Shows

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