On March 15, National Kansas Day recognizes The Sunflower State.
Magnificent herds of bison, elk, mule deer and antelope roamed the vast open plains populated by Cherokee, Osage, Pawnee and many other tribes. The region became a part of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Generations of travelers came to Kansas as the country expanded. From the Corps of Discover in 1804 to the Pony Express, all the roads in Kansas seemed to point westward.
Railroads brought rapid settlement to the territory and with it the divisive decision for citizens regarding statehood. Would Kansas be free or slave? The debates turned so vicious, the territory earned the name “Bleeding Kansas” before entering the union as the 34th state and free.

With the railroads, ranching, livestock, and agriculture grew. The verdant, fertile soil of the Kansas farmland made the state the Breadbasket of the World.
Frank L. Baum even depicted farm life for one young girl named Dorothy in his books about a place called Oz. 

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz took the world by storm, especially when Hollywood put Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Margaret Hamilton and Billie Burke in the cast. There was indeed no place like home, no place like Kansas.

One of the most critical decisions in Civil Rights history took place in Topeka, Kansas. The appeal of Brown vs. the Board of Education was brought before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1954. What had started with groups of parents and teachers in all-black schools in communities across the country had finally culminated in a final decision. Separate but equal violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalKansasDay

Discover the trails and byways of Kansas! Follow the Yellow Brick Road, find an adventure and history or explore the back roads. Dive into barbeque while listening to live jazz. Celebrate National Kansas Day with us! Use #NationalKansasDay to share on social media.

Hidden Treasures

Coronado Heights Castle – Lindsborg


Dorothy’s House and Land of Oz – Liberal

World’s Largest Ball of Twine – Cawker City

Geographical Center of the Contiguous United States – Lebanon

World’s Largest Czech Egg – Wilson

---

Bessie Anderson Stanley – Writer – (1879 – 1952)

---

Clarence Batchelor – Cartoonist – (April 1, 1888 – September 5, 1977)

---

Hattie McDaniel – Actress – (June 10, 1895 – October 26, 1952)

---

Buster Keaton – Actor – (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966)

---

Amelia Earhart – Aviator – (July 24, 1897 – January 5, 1939)

---

Aaron Douglas – Painter – (May 26, 1899 – February 2, 1979)

---

William Inge – Playwright – (May 3, 1913 – June 10, 1973)

---

Gwendolyn Brooks – Poet – (June 7, 1917 – December 3, 2000)

---

Charlie Parker – Saxophonist – (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955)

---

Robert Altman – Film Director – (February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006)

---

Harrison Ford – Actor – (July 13, 1942 -)

---

Basil Poledouris – Composer – (August 21, 1945 – November 8, 2006)

---

Lynette Woodard – Basketball coach – (August 12, 1959 – )

---

Melissa Etheridge – Singer/Songwriter – (May 29, 1961 – )

---