Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named after the Kansas River, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native Americans who lived along its bank. The tribe’s name (natively kką:ze) is often said to mean “people of the (south) wind” although this was probably not the term’s original meaning. For thousands of years, what is now Kansas was home to numerous and diverse Native American tribes. Tribes in the eastern part of the state generally lived in villages along the river valleys. Tribes in the western part of the state were semi-nomadic and hunted large herds of bison.
Lying amid the westward-rising landscape of the Great Plains of the North American continent, Kansas became the 34th state on January 29, 1861. In that year the capital was located in Topeka by popular election, outpolling nearby Lawrence by some 2,700 votes. While Kansas has a tranquil, historical, and natural ambience, the state also immerses visitors in the authentic flavor of the Wild West by preserving historical areas like Boot Hill and Fort Larned, which have changed little since Buffalo Bill came through in the 1800s.
Capital: Topeka, KS
Population: 2,940,865 (2020)
Official Website: https://portal.kansas.gov/
Tourism website: https://www.travelks.com/
Tourist Attractions for Kansas:
Kansas is also a great place to visit for art and music lovers, as well as those who thrive on speed and adventure. Catch a race at the Kansas Speedway or daydream about becoming a daredevil at the Evel Knievel museum. Learn more about the best things to do with our list of the top tourist attractions in Kansas.
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- Botanica: Wichita Gardens
- Kansas State Capitol
- Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home
- Sedgwick County Zoo
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
- Boot Hill in Dodge City
- Evil Knievel Museum
- Spencer Museum of Art
- Flint Hills Discovery Center
- Monument Rocks
- Fort Larned National Historic Site
- Keeper of the Plains and Mid-America All-Indian Center
- Kansas Speedway