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!

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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

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Scenic Byway

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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

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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

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