Barton County, KS
The history of the area that was later to become Barton County, Kansas has an ancient beginning in relation to man, perhaps even more so than her sister counties. This situation was caused by a combination of several phenomena of nature that attracted man to this area. The flood plain created by the Walnut Creek and Arkansas River produced luxuriant pasture which attracted the great game herds which in turn attracted man, the hunter.For man to cross the Great American Desert he required dependable supply of wood and water. The Arkansas River and the Walnut Creek furnished these essentials and so ancient man crossed the area in his travels in search of food and trade articles by following a trail adjacent to the river.
"Long before William Bicknell and his trading party in 1820, followed The (Santa Fe) Trail along the Arkansas River through Kansas to Santa Fe, Indians carried goods from California, thru Kansas, to Minnesota over The Trail. Coronado used it in exploring North America in 1541; Zebulon Pike arrived at Walnut Creek in 1806; 1812 it led McNights party and in 1825, Major George C Sibleys' government survey team; 1829 Major Bennet Riley's Infantry shot its first Buffalo of the expedition."
The Barton County area has many historic points on the Santa Fe Trail, including Fort Zarah, and the Walnut Creek Crossing. A common presence to all of these travelers is Pawnee Rock in the Southwest corner of Barton County, now a national landmark.
Explore Barton County
The Great Bend Expo Complex
The Expo Complex is the ideal location for a variety of events. The Expo complex consists of nearly 100,000 square feet of indoor space in three buildings and over 900,000 square feet of outside paved exhibit space. There are also electrical services available to all outside spaces.
Great Bend, KS Civic CentersCheyenne 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 species of mammals 19 species of reptiles and nine species of amphibians.
Great Bend, KS Wildlife Refuges
Wolf Park Bandshell
Fred Wolf bought the lots for a park on Mainstreet and in 1930 a bandshell was built by Young Construction Company of Hutchinson for under $4000. There was seating for 35 muscicians. Trees, shrubs, flowers, paths, and a gold fish pool were designed for the park. Soon seating for 250
Ellinwood, KS AmphitheatersBarton County Historical Museum & Village
The Barton County Historical Society Museum & Village lets you take a fascinating walk into the past. The Village is located on a five-acre tract of land that is south of Great Bend.
Nine buildings are part of the Village including an 1871 Pioneer Rock Home, an 1898 Church, a 1910 Depot, a 19
Great Bend, KS MuseumsWolf Building
The Starr-Wolf Building constructed in 1894 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Ellinwood, KS Historic BuildingsSanta Fe Depot
The existing Santa Fe Depot is the fourth depot built in Ellinwood and was dedicated on Dec. 17, 1903. The previous depot was hit by lightning and burned in 1902
Ellinwood, KS Railroad HistoryHistoric Dick Building and Ellinwood Museum
The Dick Building was built in 1887 and is listed on the Kansas State Historical Register. It was bought by Matt Dick in 1889
Ellinwood, KS MuseumsShafer Art Gallery
The L. E. "Gus" and Eva Shafer Memorial Art Gallery has been referred to as the "Gem of the Campus"
Great Bend, KS ArtsKansas Oil & Gas Hall Of Fame And Museum
The Museum was founded in 1990 by a group interested in preserving the history of the oil and gas industry.
Great Bend, KS Museums
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 species of mammals 19 species of reptiles and nine species of amphibians.
Ellinwood, KS Wildlife Refuges