View
0
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
For more information about the Native Stone Scenic Byway, contact:
Wabaunsee County Economic Development Council: wcedc@earthlink.net
National Scenic Byway website: byways.orgKansas Scenic Byways website: ksbyways.org
This brochure has been funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration
through the Kansas Scenic Byways Program.
WealwayswelcomeyoutotheNativeStone
ScenicBywayandhopethatyouenjoyyourstay
withus.Pleasehelppreservethisbeautifulland
bynotpickingthewildflowersandnativegrasses
orremovingnativestonedeposits.Enterprivate
landonlywithpermissionandhelpkeep
everyonesafebyobeyingpostedspeedlimits.Don’t
besurprisedifthelocalswavetoyouasyoupass!
KANSASKANSASN A T I V ES T O N E
N A T I V ES T O N E
81
99
4
Points of Interest Along the Byway
Historical and Cultural Sites1878SageInnandStagecoachStation,Dover(NationalRegister)1905HenrySumpBarn,southofAlmaBankofAlma,AlmaBeecherBibleandRifleChurch,WabaunseeTheCityofNativeStone,AlmaEskridgeCemetery,EskridgeKeeneTownsite,ghosttownMissionCreekTownshipCemetery,UndergroundRailroadSite,KeeneSecurityStateBankBuilding,EskridgeWabaunseeCemetery,UndergroundRailroadSiteWabaunseeCountyCourthouse,Alma(NationalRegister)WabaunseeCountyHistoricalMuseum,Alma
Side ExcursionsAgHeritagePark,AltaVistaBuffaloherds,Auburn,AltaVistaandEskridgeColumbianTheatre,WamegoDutchWindmill,WamegoElkHerd,K-4nearAltaVistaGrandmaHoerner’sGourmetFoodsPlantTourKansasMuseumofHistory,TopekaMt.MitchellHeritagePrairieOzMuseum,WamegoPaxicoAntiqueDistrictShawneeCountyHistoricalSociety,TopekaSkylineMillCreekScenicDriveVolland,ghosttownWamegoCityParkandHistoricalComplexWinetastingatWyldewoodCellars
Annual Events and Activities4thofJulyCelebration,AlmaAlmaCheeseFactoryTourAlmaChamberofCommerceDriving/WalkingTourAlmaGarageSaleDays,Alma(October)ChristmasintheCountry,Dover(November)EskridgeLaborDayRodeo,EskridgeEskridgeFallFestival,Eskridge(October)HeritageDays,Dover(June)LakeWabaunseeBoatParadeandFireworks,July4thLakeWabaunseeLakewideGarageSaleMillCreekValleyCowboysAssociationEventsNativeStoneFestivalandMulligan,Alma(May)SantaandSoup,EskridgeandAlma(December)Veteran’sDayParadeandCelebration,EskridgeWabaunseeCounty4-HFair,Alma(August)WabaunseeCountyChristmasTourWabaunseeCountyHistoricalSocietySpringandFallCountyTours
Recreational OpportunitiesAlmaCityPark,Alma–swimmingAlmaCityLake–fishingEchoCliffPark,Dover–fishing,picnickingEskridgeCityPark,EskridgeMaisieDeVorePublicSwimmingPool,EskridgeMcKnightPark,sportscomplex,AlmaRailroadParkHistoricBuildings,AlmaWabaunseeCountyStatePark,LakeWabaunseeBicycling,motorcycling,birdwatching,fishing,boating,swimming,camping
Wineries, antiques, food and Kansas arts and crafts shops are also in the area.
Scenic Byway
N A T I V E S T O N E A r E A M A pN A T I V E S T O N E A r E A M A p
99
4
475
24
W A B A U N S E E
S H A W N E E
Topeka
Wamego
AltaVista
PaxicoWabaunsee
Alma
EskridgeLakeWabaunsee
DoverKeene
4
177 99
photo by Marcus Stratton
Pho
to b
y R
icha
rd B
ell
KANSASKANSASN A T I V ES T O N E
Scenic Byway
N A T I V ES T O N E
Sunrise at Lake Wabaunsee
LikethepoetRobertFrost’s“roadless
traveled,”theNativeStoneScenicByway
beckonsthemodern-daytravelertoabandon
thenumbinghumoftheInterstateand
exploreauniqueAmericanlandscape,the
FlintHillstallgrassprairie.
ComingfromI-70atKansasHighway99,
theNativeStoneScenicBywaycontraststhe
area’srichhistorywiththevitalityoflifein
ruralKansastoday.
Born of Ancient Seas
Born of Ancient Seas
Theelementalforcesofnature,sun,wind,fireand
rainhaveshapedthelandscapeyouseeasyoudrive
theByway.ThelimestonefromwhichtheBywaygets
itsnamewasformedfromthesedimentsofshallow
seasthatexisted240millionyearsago.
Thisancientbuildingmaterialcanbeseentoday
alongtheBywayinthestonefences,barns,outbuildings,
homesandbusinessesbuiltbypioneerstonemasons
fromSwedenandGermany.Alma,oneofthecommuni-
tiesalongtheByway,iscalledtheCityofNativeStone.
1878 Sage Inn and Stagecoach Station is on the National Register of Historic Places
iscover the Native Stone Scenic Byway
TT
DD
Shaped by Time and People
For10,000years,humanshaveinhabitedthistallgrass
prairieregionshapingthelandscapeandtheculture.
Paleo-Indiansharvestedclamsandmusselsfromthelocal
creeks.TheprosperousMunkersCreekculturelivedalong
thesecreeksandinthesehills.EarlyAmericanIndianresi-
dentsoftheFlintHillsappreciatedtheremarkableviews
fromthearea’shighpoints,somuchthattheychosethese
placestolaytheirfamilymemberstorest.Morerecently,
theOsage,Kansa,ShawneeandPotawatomilivedhere.
Earlyexplorersmarveledatthesegrasslands.
In1724youngFrenchofficerÉtienneVéniardde
BourgmontpassedthroughthehillsalongtheByway.
Free-StateimmigrantsarrivedfromtheOldNorth-
westandNewEnglandandvotedtomakeKansasfree
fromslavery.FormerslavessettledinDover,Eskridge
andWabaunseewiththehopeofputtingthehorrors
ofslaverybehindthemandrealizingthepromises
offreedomintheWest.
he Road Less Traveled” Beckonsphoto by Cindy Manz
An native stone fence built by pioneer stone masons
photo by Nancy Miller
One of many streams that showcase the natural beauty of the area
photo by Marcus Stratton
photo by Debbie Divine
Farming,ranchingandlivestockproductionare
themainactivitiesalongtheByway.Picturesque
stonefencesreflecttheclosingoftheopenrangein
1867.Thecowboyculturesurvivesandiscelebrated
eachyearattheEskridgeLaborDayRodeoand
theranchrodeosheldinAlma.
Rural America Welcomes You Home
TravelersoftheBywaydiscoverthatruralAmerica
isaliveandwelltoday.ThevillageofDover,named
forthewhitecliffsofDover,England,andthe
townsofEskridgeandAlmacontinuetoserveas
vitalcentersforthosewhocalltheKansasFlint
Hillsregionhome.
Thetowncafésremainthecenteroflifeinrural
AmericaandalongtheByway.Enjoyacupofcoffee
andpieandgetaringsideseattolifeinthecountry.
VisittheWabaunseeCountyHistoricalMuseum
andviewartifactsofthehumanactivityinthis
landscape.Exploretheareashopsfortreasures
fromanothertime.photo by Nancy Miller
Serene beauty is created as snow settles on a farm
along the Byway
“
Recommended