GOLDEN
BELT CULTURAL ALLIANCE
Golden Belt Cultural Alliance is an informal
association of museums and cultural attractions located in west central
Kansas. Some of the best kept secrets of central Kansas are located within
the five counties comprising the alliance. Please make us your destination,
not just an afternoon stop. Golden Belt Cultural Alliance participating
counties are Ellis, Rooks,
Rush,
Russell,
and Trego.
Click here for a printable map. (available in
Summer 2000)
The Bukovina Society of the Americas is located on the upper floor of the former First Congregational Church at Washington and 8th Street in Ellis, Kansas. The church structure an interesting historical site houses artifacts from Bukovina German settlers. Bukovina was a multicultural crown land of the Austrian Empire, beginning in 1886, ethnic Germans were attracted to land and economic opportunities in Canada, United States, and Brazil and approximately 70 families settled in Ellis. To recognize the centennial of the immigration, the Bukovina Society was formed to conduct an annual heritage festival.
The facility, free to all visitors, is staffed Tuesday through Saturday
afternoon. Visitors are welcome at other times to call one of the
volunteers listed at the entrance to the building. In addition to
the artifact room, the original Congregational Chapel is open to tour.
Books and mementos are sold. The society has a computer available
for family searches in their 10,000-name database. The Bukovina Society
heading above is a link to the home page containing detailed information
about the society and various publications reproduced on-line.
Exhibits focus on the history of the county from 1867 to 1920. Included
are displays on famous western figures such as "Buffalo Bill" Cody and"Wild
Bill" Hickok. Also featured are a saloon, a one-room school, and an 1879
stone church. Volga and Bukovina German displays include a reproduction
of a typical limestone settler's dwelling.
(785) 625-6812
thefort@kshs.org
The fort was established in 1867 to protect construction workers who
were building the Union Pacific Railroad. The original blockhouse, guardhouse,
and officers' quarters are located here as well as exhibits interpreting
pioneer and military history. Famous legends such as "Wild Bill" Hickock,
"Buffalo Bill" Cody, General Philip Sheridan, and Lieutenant Colonel George
Armstrong Custer once called this fort home.
The Hays Public Library houses books, videos, audiotapes, computer software,
internet, and the Kansas Room which is a special collection dealing with
local history and genealogy. The Hays Public Library was named the 2nd
Best Public Library in America in 1999.
Sternberg
Museum of Natural HistoryHours: Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday - Monday 1 p.m.
- 9 p.m.
(785) 628 - 4298
On March 13, 1999 the Sternberg Museum of Natural History unveiled many
new exhibits. Inside the new facility visitors will find new displays including
a walk-through diorama of Kansas "as it was", along with well-known favorites
such as the "fish-within-a-fish" fossil. A highlight for visitors is our
new hands-on Discovery Room where children of all ages can interact with
specimens and even see how technology is used in the natural sciences.
Included in the museum building is a casual dining restaurant and large
gift store.
The Frank Walker Museum, operated by the Rooks County Historical Society,
has on display items related exclusively to the history of Rooks County
and includes an impressive collection of dolls.
RUSH COUNTY COUNTY WEBPAGE
Kansas
Barbed Wire MuseumThe internationally recognized museum displays over 700 varieties of
barbed wire and related fencing items such as wire splices. Also housed
in the museum is one of the largest collections of fencing tools in the
world. Dioramas depict the use of barbed wire in the 19th century. A library
and theatre provide visitors an opportunity to learn more about the settlement
of the region.
The museum displays an authentic re-creation of a stone quarry used
to cut posts for fencing. Also displayed are tools and other items depicting
the history of post rock unique to this region. The museum is located in
a native stone house built around 1883 near Nekoma. The house was moved
to its present site in 1963.
Rush County Historical
MuseumThe museum is housed in the former Timken Santa Fe Railroad Depot and
features displays relevant to the development of Rush County. Featured
is a display of medical equipment from an early twentieth century doctors
office and historical kitchenware.
The Deines Cultural Center houses the E. Hubert Deines collection of
wood engravings as well as monthly art exhibits including everything from
paintings to sculpture to photography. Downstairs is an Art Education Area
where Demonstrations and workshops are held in a downstairs Art Education
area.
Highway 283 North of I-70, exit 128, WaKeeney
The museum houses the first printing press of the Western Kansas World
office dated 1879. Other interesting displays include a tellers cage from
the Ogallah Bank, World War I and II items, and county archives.