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Sumner County, KS

Sumner CountyNestled within Sumner County are seven cities brimming with popular attractions, historic sites, cultural activities, festivals and rodeos. For its 25,000 residents, Sumner County boasts excellent recreational facilities, museums sharing the frontier spirit, many special events and several historical sites listed on the National Registry of Historical Places.

Sumner County's rich history began when Texans drove their cattle over the Chisholm Trail to the railroad station in Abilene. The Texas drovers were suprised and delighted to find full streams and rich grasslands for their herds. News spread about the opportunities, and the homesteaders made their way to this area. Wellington was designated as the permanent county seat in 1872.

The county's heritage included violent murders, grasshopper plagues, floods and droughts, and threats of Indian raids. Flour mills were erected and the first railroads were built to help market the county's huge wheat yields.

It's easy to get to Sumner County by auto on I-35 north/south or 160 east/west. Commercial air service is only 30 minutes away in Wichita.

Explore Sumner County

The Chisholm Trail Museum

Wellington's Chisholm Trail Museum contains over 40 rooms filled with over 20,000 artifacts and pictures, most collected locally, some dating back to the Civil War and the early days cattle trail that passed west of Wellington.

The building itself is a reinforced concrete structure built in 19

Wellington, KS Museums

Historic Walking Tour

Caldwell, the Border Queen, has seen wild days as a cowtown beside the Chisholm trail, a brief period of booming times during the Oklahoma Land Rush days, and quiet prosperity based on the vast grain fields of Sumner County.

Caldwell, KS Tours


Old Mill and Elevator

The Old Mill and Elevator was originally built as a flour mill in the 1880s on the Santa Fe tracks by the Kramer Milling Company.

Caldwell, KS Historic Mills

Conway Springs Churches

Five churches are active in the Conway Springs community: First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), First Baptist Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church, and the United Methodist Church.

Conway Springs, KS Historic Churches

Central Park

Central Park at the west end of Spring Avenue, is two blocks square, and contains facilities often used by citizens and visitors in the community.

At the end of the 19

Conway Springs, KS Recreation

Ghost Riders of the Chisholm Trail Silhouette

The "Ghost Riders of the Chisholm Trail" are life-size cattle drive figures on stoney bluff astride the real Chisholm Trail. The "Ghosts" will forever remind us of the great cattle drives, 1866-1886

Caldwell, KS Arts

State Bank Building

The State Bank had its beginning with the town. It was founded as a private bank by James M. Harper, G. Douglas and J.C. Lutz. The three partners were rated with net assets of over $200,000. Mr. Harper was in charge of the bank, the first in the new town. Mr. Dengler died early in the bank'

Conway Springs, KS Historic Buildings

"Talking Tombstones Tour"

During the "Talking Tombstones Tour", some of Caldwell's infamous cowtown characters"come back" to tell their stories at their real graves.

Caldwell, KS Tours

Wellington Lake

We hope the information given to you on this page will encourage you to visit our beautiful lake. Our lake provides a variety of recreational opportunities. PICNICING

Wellington, KS Recreation

Spring House

The spring house at Conway Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is immortalized within the city park where visitors can still see the bubbling water as it freely flows into the encased pool. The story goes that in 1882

Conway Springs, KS Landmarks

Post Office Mural

The Caldwell Post Office, built in the 1930s, is listed on the National Historic Register, as it displays one of the collection of murals commissioned during the Depression Era by the WPA. The mural, "Cowboys Driving Cattle," was painted by Kenneth Evett in 1941.

Caldwell, KS Arts

Explore Sumner County