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Norton, Kansas

Tourists will relive a bit of the past when they visit the Adobe House located at the Prairie Dog State Park. This earthen-walled structure is the only one in Kansas on its original location and preserved as a museum. As near as can be determined, the house was constructed in 1892, by the John Spencer family.

The Adobe House was constructed out of a mixture of mud and straw, called adobe, which can be viewed on the interior walls. A horse was used - traveling in a circular trench in which dirt, water, and straw were added, and mixed to the proper consistency. The mixture was then formed into bricks, put in place, and given a smooth coat of the same mixture.

After the construction of the Lake Sebelius Dam, the adjoining land became the Prairie Dog State Park. This area was to include picnic shelters, bathhouses, and the old adobe house was to be torn down. Interested citizens protested and wanted it preserved. A volunteer group worked on the building. They fixed the roof, the deteriorating walls, replaced missing windows, cleaned the interior, and furnished it with antique furniture donated by interested persons. Recently, the Adobe Home has been extensively renovated.

During the construction of the dam, an old wagon was discovered buried under 19' of earth in the old original Burlington Railroad fill. It became visible when the shoreline of the reservoir was worked. The wagon, which is an old-type two-horse, dirt-moving slip, was recovered and donated to be placed near the house. A windmill with a wooden wheel was also moved in.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Norton County Historical Museum

Did you know that Norton County, Kansas, was the site of one of the biggest meteor impacts in the United States? At about 5:00 p.m. on February 18, 1948, there was a loud explosion and fireball approximately 15

Norton, KS Museums

"They Also Ran" Gallery

"What do Stephen A. Douglas, Horace Greeley, Horation Seymour, Henry Clay, Alf Landon, Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter have in common? - They all ran for President ... and lost." Although these men and many others in American Presidential History were unsuccessful in their bids to attain the nation'

Norton, KS Museums

Hillmon School

The Hillmon Schoolhouse was the sixth school district to be organized in Norton County. The school houses were numbered as they were built and the Hillmon School was District 6

Norton, KS Pioneer History

Adobe House

Tourists will relive a bit of the past when they visit the Adobe House located at the Prairie Dog State Park. This earthen-walled structure is the only one in Kansas on its original location and preserved as a museum. As near as can be determined, the house was constructed in 1892

Norton, KS Pioneer History


Things to do near Norton, KS

Goodland Public Library

Over 39,000 volumes, Genealogy Collection, Kansas Room, talking books for Blind and Handicapped. Books available in large pri...

Kirwin Birds

Kirwin NWR consists of 10,778 acres of diverse wildlife habitat including 34 species of mammals, 31 species of reptiles and a...

Graham County Hunting and Fishing Atlas

Click on the link below to locate the public hunting areas in Graham County....

Fort Wallace

Fort Wallace was first called Camp Pond Creek and was established in September, 1865, about one-and-a-half miles southwest o...