El Dorado, Kansas

El Dorado, Kansas

In the summer of 1857, a party of settlers from Lawrence topped the rise about a mile east of present day El Dorado and looked down on the beautiful Walnut River Valley. Tradition has it that it was late afternoon and the tranquil surface of the gently meandering Walnut was emblazoned with the golden glow of a setting sun. Capt. J. Cracklin was so impressed with the sight, he exclaimed "El Dorado!"

The name El Dorado is of Spanish origin translating "The Gilded." The phrase is a contraction of El Hombre Dorado, "The Gilded Man," the significance of which is derived from the exploration of early Spaniards in the mid 1700's to this area. They heard tales of an annual ritual in which a man was covered with gold dust and then immersed in a sacred pool, washing off the gold dust as an offering. The Spaniards, with their lust for gold, set out to find the gilded man, El Hombre Dorado, which they soon shortened to El Dorado.

The story of this gilded man and his land of fabulous wealth was told so often that the words El Dorado became a symbol of riches. The phrase made its way into the English language and came to mean any rich, beautiful land or location.

Formally incorporated in September 1871, El Dorado experienced rapid growth, as settlers from the East flooded into Butler County between 1870 and 1890. The Population boom was primarily based on the availability of good farm land and the area's great potential for cattle. El Dorado rapidly developed as a center for farming and ranching. The city's long and prosperous history also includes proximity to the rich and productive El Dorado Oil Field. The field was discovered shortly before the First World War, and, through its tremendous production, enabled the Allies to "Float to victory on a sea of El Dorado Oil," El Dorado continues to prosper from the oil and cattle industry yet also welcomes the recreation industry which has grown up around El Dorado Lake and State Park.

Downtown El Dorado is "stepping back into time" with red brick sidewalks, old fashioned light poles, planters full of flowers and benches lining the streets. Be sure to visit our art galleries and the famous Coutts Memorial Museum of Art. Take a break from shopping and relax in one of our outdoor courtyards. Sunshine Court is a place to enjoy flowers, visit with a friend or eat your picnic or sack lunch. Sculpture Plaza offers a 10x25 foot ceramic tile mural of the scenic Flinthills and two of our outdoor sculptures, "Flight" and "His Brand". Downtown restaurants and cafes offer places for great meals or snacks and unique retail shops provide a variety of interesting places to explore.

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Attractions near El Dorado, Kansas

Prairie Wetland
Prairie Wetland

The 55-acre KCPL Prairie Wetland includes 23.6 acres of wetlands in three cells on the western border of the City of Gardner....

Beaumont Hotel
Beaumont Hotel

The Beaumont Hotel was created in 1879 as a stagecoach and railroad stop to shelter weary pioneers when the railroad brought ...

Humboldt Historical Museum
Humboldt Historical Museum

The first Museum building was built more than a century ago in 1867. There are presently five buildings of historic and coll...

Big Hill Lake Fishing Reports

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ACCURATE FISHING REPORTS: This is just to remind you that fishing reports are given with the bes...

Vietnam Memorial
Vietnam Memorial

...

Burlington Post Office
Burlington Post Office

The Post Office building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 17, 1989 for its associatio...

Post Cemetery
Post Cemetery

Beyond the Ogden Monument is the Post Cemetery. In the area nearest the Ogden Monument are mass graves of persons who died in...

Baxter Springs Golf & Country Club

Course Access: PublicHoles: 9Reserve Advance Tee Times: 7 days...

Windsor Hotel
Windsor Hotel

This four story hotel was sometimes referred to as the "Waldorf of the Prairies". In 1887, John A. Stevens built the hotel ne...

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge

There are 650 bird species in the United States, 417 in Kansas, and 320 in Cheyenne Bottoms! Besides birds, there are 23 spec...

Upcoming Events near El Dorado, Kansas

Flint Hills Beef Fest

Start Date: Fri August, 16th
Celebrate the cattle industry with BBQ contest, rodeo, steak dinner, and nationally known entertainment....

Features old tractors, steam and gas engines, along with a parade and other activities for the enthusiasts. Tractor Pull, Threshing, Hay Baling, Saw Milling, Shingle Making, Buzz Sawing, Antique Auction, Arts & Crafts Show. 9am-5pm.
K&O Steam and Gas Engine Show

Start Date: Fri August, 16th
Features old tractors, steam and gas engines, along with a parade and other activities for the enthusiasts. Tractor Pull, Thr...

<B> Two fathers decide they want their children to fall in love. The girl is a daydreamer and the boy is a romantic. The fathers decide to instigate a mock feud amongst themselves in order to help them fall in love. They go as far as to hire an actor to stage a mock abduction of the girl, in which the boy can become the hero and save her. Performances: Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat - 7:30pm Sun & Wed - 2:00pm Doors open 30 minutes before the show. Concessions only $2 each!!" style="max-width:75px; max-height:75px;" />
Great Plains Theatre, Live Production - 2013

Start Date: Fri August, 16th
"The Fantasticks" Two fathers decide they want their children to fall in love. The girl is a daydreamer and the boy...

When Pigs Fly BBQ/Fly-in

Start Date: Fri August, 23rd
KC Sanctioned BBQ contest, music, powered parachute, plane rides, simulator rides, pony rides, tractor pull, great food, and ...

Arts In The Park Concert Series

Start Date: Fri August, 2nd
June - Aug., Fridays and Saturdays - Free summer concert series featuring national, regional and local musical groups/perform...

Smoky Valley Saddle Club Annual Rodeo

Start Date: Fri August, 2nd
8:00 P.M. ...

FRONTIER WESTERN CELEBRATION

Start Date: Fri August, 2nd
Are You Ready For a Good Time? Six years ago, volunteers for El Dorado Main Street wanted to create a festival that would ...

Labor Day Celebration

Start Date: Fri August, 30th
4 DAYS - Yard sales, softball tournaments, carnival, street dance, "cowboy polo", flea market, art and crafts, horseshoes, fo...

The Greatest Pet Rescue Ever!

Start Date: Fri August, 30th
Award winning film: "An American Opera; The Greatest Pet Rescue Ever". An American Opera is a visceral, operatic vision of w...

"Christmas Traditions" Trolley Tour - 2012

Start Date: Fri December, 13th
Ride the trolley around town to look at the beautiful Christmas lights, hear stories of local and national Christmas Traditio...

El Dorado Map

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