Email from Governor Bill Graves

To: Priscillapostcardsfrom.com
Subject: discover america trip
Date: Thu, 09 Oct 1997 16:11:03

Dear Ms. Sarsfield:

Thank you for your interest in Kansas. The following itinerary is only a small sample of what Kansas has to offer. I hope this itinerary will exemplify my excitement in sharing the beauty, history, and diversity of our state with your audience.

Have a safe journey. Kansas looks forward to seeing you in March.

Sincerely,

BILL GRAVES
Governor


Itinerary - KANSAS

Atchison
Make a stop at the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison. Sights include the house in which she was born and spent her early childhood, museum displays and monuments, plus an airport, stadium and highway that bear her name. Or learn about the history of the community where Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad began its journey at the Historic Santa Fe Depot Visitors Center.

Louisburg
Travel south on US Highway 69 to the Louisburg Cider Mill. Enjoy apple cider and donuts. See how they make and sample a mug of the family recipe, Lost Trails Root Beer.

Fort Scott
Don't miss the historic style of this Southeast Kansas town. Fort Scott features a Victorian downtown, mansions, Civil War sites and the Fort Scott National Historic site. Enjoy the quaintness of small town charm. See this while aboard a trolley tour of the city. An overnight in Fort Scott affords the visitor a choice from among numerous beautiful Victorian Bed and Breakfasts.

Topeka
The capital city of Kansas features Historic Ward Meade Park, a historical home, botanical gardens and developing Prairie Crossings Town Square, a turn-of-the-century town with general store gift shop, drug store with soda fountain, dentist/doctor office, livery, railway station, and one room school house. The governor's residence - Cedar Crest is one of the few governor's mansions in the nation open for visitors. This 1928 twelve room home features Scotch influences and displays of Kansas memorabilia. The Kansas State Capitol with its beautiful woodwork and elaborate architecture, is an 1866 copper domed structure. Visitors see the House and Senate chambers and four levels of architecture, history lessons on why a period of our history was referred to as *Bleeding Kansas* and the famous *Kansas Murals* featuring murals by John Steuart Curry. Across the street from the statehouse is The First Presbyterian Church, the only church west of the Mississippi with original Tiffany stained glass windows. These windows were designed and executed at the Tiffany Studios in New York City. Louis Tiffany personally supervised the 1911 window additions to the 1884 cathedral.

Flint Hills Scenic Byway
Scenic byways serve as natural, social, cultural and economic resources for visitors to the state. This byway located on highway 177 takes you on a journey into the history of the American West. Start the byway in Council Grove where in 1825 the Osage chiefs opened the Santa Fe Trail. The trunk of the Council Oak is where the agreement was signed. Rich with many historical attractions, visit the Old Cowboy Jail, Seth Hays Home, Custer's Elm, and the Post Office Oak and Museum. Find time to eat at the historic Hays House, the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi. Scenic places include the River Walk, the Madonna of the Trail and the Kaw Indian Warrior sculpture. Traveling south from Council Grove on 177 see America's newest National Park, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve recently added to the National Park Service. Cottonwood Falls is home of the Chase County Courthouse, the oldest courthouse still in use in the state. Historic sites include the Chase County Historical Museum and the Roniger Native American Museum. You'll find excellent lodging and fine dining at the Grand Central Hotel. In Cassoday make sure you stop to eat at the local cafe. From Council Grove, through Cottonwood Falls to Cassoday you will find the Flint Hills' tawny limestone bluffs and waving seas of grass a memorable visit to the last of America's prairies.

Wichita
While in Wichita plan to visit Old Cowtown, a nationally recognized open-air living history museum. Here you will experience an 1870s cattletown on the Chisholm. A black-smith, cowboy and others recreate life on the Kansas frontier. Stroll wooden sidewalks and visit more than thirty exhibit areas including Wichita's first jail, six historic homes, a saloon, a drug store and a one-room school. While in Wichita plan to see the Wichita Art Museum that displays American masterpieces in Kansas' largest art museum; children's gallery, gift shop, restaurant and sculpture deck. At the Indian Center Museum view exhibits of Native American art and artifacts and the sculpture *Keeper of the Plains.*

Hutchinson
After exploring the settlement of the Kansas frontier, explore space at the Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center. With more than $100 million of space artifacts, the Hall of Space Museum is second only to the Smithsonian and features an original Lockheed SR71 Blackbird and the world's largest collection of space suits.

Lindsborg
Find the charm of Swedish heritage in Lindsborg, also know as *Little Sweden, USA.* Settled in 1869 by Swedish immigrants, you can experience their traditions and heritage today in the downtown shops, restaurants, art galleries and churches. Lindsborg also features four authentic Swedish festivals; the Messiah Festival - during holy week, the Midsummer's Day Festival - 3rd Saturday of June, Svensk Hyllningsfest - October of odd numbered years, and the Lucia Fest - 2nd Saturday in December. While in Lindsborg plan to visit the McPherson County Old Mill Museum and the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery.

Abilene
Abilene is the hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Visit the Eisenhower Center and see the Eisenhower Museum, boyhood home and Meditation Chapel. And don't miss the Greyhound Hall of Fame, which chronicles the history of the racing dog. Two new attractions you surely won't want to miss include the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and Vintage Fashions featuring a multitude of beautiful period fashions.