I was thinking today about my home state. About how amazing it is and that there are so many people who know so little about it. So, today I wanted to write a post about my beloved Kansas and all the things you probably don't know about it. HEAVEN'S TO BETSY I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!! AREN'T YOU?!?!
So, I'm From this State...
The name Kansas comes from an indian tribe, the Kansa. A person from Kansas is a Kansan. We were granted statehood January 29th 1861, we were the 34th state to be granted statehood. Our motto is
Per Aspera ad Astra which means,
To the Stars through Difficulty. Our state flower is a Sunflower. Our state animal is a Buffalo. Our state bird is a Meadowlark. Our seal depicts the indians chasing buffalo, a steam-boat making its way up the river, a log cabin, and a farmer plowing a field. Oh, and our capital is Topeka NOT Kansas City.
Did You Know?
1. Did you know Kansas was the geographical center of the contiguous United States? Our first stop, Lebanon, KS.
2. You have heard Chicago called the
Windy City. But did you know that it is actually Dodge City that is the windiest city in the United States? It's average wind speed is 13.9mph. Dodge City, KS, is one of the most famous Wild West towns. Bat Masterson, Matt Dillon, Wyatt Earp, and others walked the streets of this frontier town. The old western show "Gunsmoke" was all about life in Dodge City with Marshal Dillon.
3. Have you ever heard of Monument Rock? Ya, there are Rock formations towering the Kansan sky line! They are gorgeous and proof that all of Kansas isn't flat.
4. We are home to the biggest ball of twine! Yep, Cawker City is proud to be the home of the largest ball of twine, weighing over 19,000 pounds! The people of Cawker City are continually adding to it so that it may continue to be the largest ball of twine.
5. We don't have alligators, monkeys, elks, or bears but we are home to some interesting animals. Including Buffalo, Grouse or the Prairie Chicken, White-Tail Deer, and the Prairie Dog. Just remember that it illegal to hunt a rabbits from a motor boat or a duck from the back of a mule. Also, it's illegal to ride any animal down the road in my home town Derby, KS. Oh, and if you want to hunt Whales, you can't do it here...its illegal.
6. Have you ever eaten at Pizza Hut? Well, Pizza Hut began in Wichita, KS. The first store opened in 1958 by Frank and Dan Carney.
7. For all of you who hear "Kansas" and can only thing Dorothy Gale and Oz, you should visit Liberal, KS. There you can visit the home of Dorothy and take a trip to Oz yourself. Max and Katie Zimmerman had this vision after meeting a waiter in San Fransisco who said he would expect to see Dorothy's house in Kansas. In 1981, their vision became a reality and today you can walk down a yellow brick road in Liberal, KS.
8. The first woman pilot, Amelia Earhart, was from Atchison KS. I love her story! It's mysterious and exciting. I think it's pretty awesome that she came from my home state.
9. Superman not only grew up in Kansas but he was Jayhawk! I have proof! :D
10. There are so many awesome things about my state, this is just a few. However, my favorite piece of Kansas is found in the middle of nowhere on 240 acres...
Ahhh the Land, the Land... Grenola, KS.
Thanks for bearing through my outburst of state loyalty. But as Dorothy Gale so eloquently put,
"There is no place like HOME."
No comments:
Post a Comment