Kansas is celebrated in commemoration of the day it became a state

Lillie Hoffart, Staff Writer|January 30, 2015

Roadtrip Sites in Kansas

S. P. Dinsmoor built his “Garden of Eden” between 1907 and 1928. He was a military nurse, a Freethinker, and an artist. After purchasing a house in Lucas, Kan., he decided to surround it with towering concrete sculptures that depicted scenes that are diverse: from biblical figures to animals to his social views. He constructed a sign above the entrance that reads “Garden of Eden.” He had wanted visitors to be able to tour his creation. Dinsmoor is buried on the edge of the property.

Moon Marble, located in Bonner Springs, is a shop that sells old-fashioned toys, but specializes in marbles. This shop also features artists who make marbles and other glass objects, and owner Bruce Breslow gives live demonstrations about the art of marble making. The shop’s “wall of marbles” allows visitors to fill a tube with marbles of their choosing.

Soda fountains were a very popular stop for drinks during the early twentieth century. Along with traditional soda, they served lunches, ice cream, and specialty drinks such as Green River, a lemon-lime drink that was second in popularity only to Coca-Cola. The Georgetown Pharmacy and Soda Fountain, located in Merriam, is one of the few working soda fountains left in Kansas and is still open for lunch, snacks and a classic dining experience.

Quiz

1. The state soil, Harney Loam Silt, is best for:

A) limiting erosion

B) raising cattle

C) agriculture

D) tornados

2. The town of Lebanon is the ______ of the contiguous 48 states:

A) smallest town

B) geographic center

C) silo capitol

D) gateway to the West

3. The first known photo of ______ was taken in Kansas: