Kansas

For much of its history, Kansas has been a crossroads in the middle of North America. Its earliest European visitor, the Spanish explorer Coronado, passed through the territory seeking gold, and later came cowboys driving cattle, settlers on their way west along the Santa Fe and Oregon trails and the railroad passing across the plains.

In the 19th cenutry, Kansas played in important role in the growth of the United States. The debate surrounding the admission of Kansas to the United States in 1861 was so violent that the state earned the nickname "Bleeding Kansas." The controversy centered on whether or not slavery would be legal in the new state. Within a few months of the state's admission, the Civil War between the northern states and the southern states began, with Kansas siding with the anti-slavery north. After the war, massive cattle drives created the 'cowtowns' (cities or towns that exist primarily cattle trading centers) of the Wild West like Abilene and Dodge City. The debauched, lawless atmospheres of these cities made legends of lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickock.

Today, Kansas has miles and miles of farmland which produce most of America's wheat. Wichita and Lawrence are cities of decent size, though not necessarily major sites for visitors. Wichita, the largest city, is Kansas' cultural capital. Its historical downtown area, called Old Town, has developed an increasingly vibrant nightlife in recent years. Wichita State University is home to many cultural resources, including an excellent Native American museum, and helps boost the variety of dining and live music you'll find in town. Old Cowtown, a living museum, is an outstanding historical center which brings the Wild West period alive. Lawrence, primarily a college town, is home of the University of Kansas. A relaxed city, it has a charming downtown area and a thriving cultural life, fueled by the many students living in the area.

Dodge City, probably the most famous Wild West cowtown of all time, was certainly a wild place in its heyday. Gambling, drinking, and gunfights were normal parts of life here. Today, the Boot Hill Museum and the museums along Historic Front Street help re-create the spirit of that era.