Hays, KS
Our community of Hays, a city of 20,000, presents the rare mix of the amenities of a larger city in the wholesome setting of a small town. This peaceful environment is perfect for a comfortable family life, while providing many commercial and economic opportunities.In August of 1867 Hays City began when the Union Pacific Railroad, Eastern Division, reached the area. The town was located here not only because of its proximity to the railroad, but also due to the presence of Fort Hays, a U.S. Army garrison. Teamsters, railroad workers, homesteaders, soldiers, and even desperadoes following the railroad, made Hays City a tough "end of the track" town.
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Of all the downtown businesses, The Tommy Drum Saloon may be the most well known. The record is cloudy as to when Tommy Drum came to Hays City, but it was sometime prior to June 1, 1870, when he was listed on the US Census. He was a veteran of the U.S. 6th Infantry in both the Mexican and Florida Wars. Drum's Saloon reputedly was a favorite gathering place of many famous men such as "Buffalo Bill" Cody, "Wild Bill" Hickok, Lieutenant Colonel Custer and Generals Miles and Sheridan.
Two Goddard brothers, Cy and Ed, also ran saloons in early Hays City. The Goddards may have played an important role in William Cody gaining the nickname "Buffalo Bill" by giving him a job hunting buffalo for them. "Wild Bill" was probably in this area as early as April of 1867 as a scout for Lieutenant Colonel George Custer. In December of the same year he was in Hays as a Deputy US Marshal. From late July or early August of 1869 to December of 1869, Hickok served as the acting sheriff of Ellis County. He apparently was not elected by served at the will of the vigilante committee. During his term as acting sheriff, Hickok killed 2 men, who may have been more or less outside the law than Hickok, depending on which historian you believe. The buildings from Hays violent past are gone but its history lives on in names such as "Wild Bill" Hickok, "Buffalo" Bill Cody, "Rattlesnake" Pete Lanahan and James "The Cur" Currie.
Located on the grounds of the Ellis County Historical Society Museum at 100 W. 7th is the reconstructed Volga-German House. This house was built from information obtained through diaries and documentation passed down to the descendants.
Hays Kansas Related Videos
Brief tornado south of Hays, Kansas 5/18/13
Small brief spin up tornado just south of hays on Saturday may 18 2013.
2/20/2013 Hays, KS Winter Storm Footage
The powerful winter storm system impacting the central part of the United States is bulls-eyed to hit the area around Hays, Kansas the hardest. Video shows t...
Fort Hays Kansas
Fort Hays Kansas Fort Hays, Kansas was an important frontier outpost of the United States Army located in Hays, Kansas between 1865 and 1889. Fort Hays was t...
Harlem Shake (Hays Kansas Style)
Just 4 cousins, an uncle, and a friend jammin' to the Harlem Shake.......Hays Kansas Style? Let us know what you think! Please Rate/Comment below!
Tour vlog: Hays, Kansas!
Pezzettino tours through Hays with Wolfgang Schaefer.
2/21/2013 Winter storm dumps 18 inches of snow on the Hays, KS area.
Adverse winter conditions forced I-70 to close from Hays to Salina. Over a foot and a half of snow has fallen in the area creating hazardous driving conditio...
Extreme Rotation and Tornado Sirens in Hays, Kansas on 6/14/2012
Around 8pm in the evening on June 14th, 2012, storms began to move into the Hays area, all part of a severe weather outbreak. Two t-storm warnings were in ef...
My Trip Across America - Kansas City, MO & Hays, KS
My dream of Traveling across America is finally coming through. Join me on my Adventures.
Ocktoberfest (2009) Hays Kansas
video of oktobeerfest from a dif. perspective hays, ks.
Bearkat Tour Vlog 4 - Hays Kansas
Bearkat & Paul Starling tell you all about their great show in the lovely town of Hays Kansas. Paul fills you in on a plant he ate. Bearkat explains what's r...
Upcoming Events in Hays Kansas
- Fidelisfest - Hays
- Go Truck GO - Hays
- Great Planes on the Great Plains Hays Fly-In - Hays
- Summer Gallery Walk - Hays
- Wild West Festival - Hays
May 27, 2013
May 30, 2013
June 8, 2013
June 21, 2013
July 3, 2013
To Hays calendar of events
Popular Attractions in Hays Kansas
Forsyth Library & Special Collections DisplayHays, KS | Category: Libraries
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