This morning we departed Kansas City to the southwest taking I-35 to US-56. We followed US 56 through the small towns that dot the southeastern Kansas landscape. Each town was a variation on the theme of the one stoplight, everyone knows everyone communties. I half expected to see a milkman or a newspaper delivery boy on his bicycle, but I blinked and we were back in prairie land. As we passed through I was checking populations and information and was surprised to discover that some of these towns have websites, like Burlingame, KS (pop. 1017). After a couple hours of rolling prairie we arrived in Council Grove, KS (pop. 2321).
Hungry for lunch, we found Hays House Restaurant and Tavern, claiming to be the longest continually operating restaurant west of the the Mississippi. It began serving travelers on the Santa Fe trail over 150 years ago and now serves locals and travelers along US-56. The manager was particularly excited to hear how far we had come and gave us a tour of the building. Additionally, he explain that Council Grove is know for a tree under which a treaty was signed with the local Osage nation allowing the westward passage of pioneers. Unfortunately, the tree was reduced to a stump in the 1950s, but the stump still exists today. The Post Office Oak, another famous tree in town used by pioneers to send mail by way of other travelers, appears to no longer exist. It, too, was supposedly reduced to a stump, but when we went to the site, all we found was grass. So much for that historic place!
Onward from Council Grove, we drove south on KS-177 to US-50 crossing more prairie land. Needing to make some tracks westward we decided to get back to I-70 for the next days drive. Via KS-150 and US-56, we joined I-135 and stopped in Salina, KS to rest our weary heads.
Day 4: Kansas City to Salina, KS
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This morning we departed Kansas City to the southwest taking I-35 to US-56. We followed US 56 through the small towns that dot the southeastern Kansas landscape. Each town was a variation on the theme of the one stoplight, everyone knows everyone communties. I half expected to see a milkman or a newspaper delivery boy on his bicycle, but I blinked and we were back in prairie land. As we passed through I was checking populations and information and was surprised to discover that some of these towns have websites, like Burlingame, KS (pop. 1017). After a couple hours of rolling prairie we arrived in Council Grove, KS (pop. 2321).
Hungry for lunch, we found Hays House Restaurant and Tavern, claiming to be the longest continually operating restaurant west of the the Mississippi. It began serving travelers on the Santa Fe trail over 150 years ago and now serves locals and travelers along US-56. The manager was particularly excited to hear how far we had come and gave us a tour of the building. Additionally, he explain that Council Grove is know for a tree under which a treaty was signed with the local Osage nation allowing the westward passage of pioneers. Unfortunately, the tree was reduced to a stump in the 1950s, but the stump still exists today. The Post Office Oak, another famous tree in town used by pioneers to send mail by way of other travelers, appears to no longer exist. It, too, was supposedly reduced to a stump, but when we went to the site, all we found was grass. So much for that historic place!
Onward from Council Grove, we drove south on KS-177 to US-50 crossing more prairie land. Needing to make some tracks westward we decided to get back to I-70 for the next days drive. Via KS-150 and US-56, we joined I-135 and stopped in Salina, KS to rest our weary heads.