Barton County: Wetlands and History

Discover Barton County through two special themes: the nature and birdlife of Cheyenne Bottoms and the history of the Santa Fe Trail. You’ll also find regional history and nature exhibits, historic architecture, and a walking tour of downtown Great Bend. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, first consider whether your days will focus more on birdwatching, historic sites, or museums.

Bird Migration and Wetlands

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area offers the best opportunity to observe large numbers of different bird species during spring and fall migration. The exact pattern of migration varies from year to year. Sandhill cranes are especially common there from late October to early November. This makes it possible to distinguish general seasonal bird migration from a particularly notable period for this species.

Fishing is also an activity at the Wildlife Area, but is mostly limited there to carp and catfish. Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve covers 8,018 acres and borders the 19,857-acre Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. The two figures refer to the respective areas and help distinguish the Preserve from the Wildlife Area.

Kansas Wetlands Education Center is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend on the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway. At the Koch Wetlands Exhibit, you’ll find interpretive displays, historical and cultural artifacts, hands-on activities, and natural history collections. Exhibit content may be updated over time. Guided van tours travel through the wetlands; check whether they are available before your trip.

Santa Fe Trail Landmarks

Barton County Historical Society Museum is a certified historic site on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. Pawnee Rock State Historic Site is also a well-known landmark along the Santa Fe Trail. Historically, Pawnee Rock marked the midpoint of the trail. At the site, visitors can stand on the pavilion and take in a 360-degree view of the Arkansas River Valley. Check site conditions before your trip.

Barton County Historical Society began work on its Historical Village in 1964. Among the buildings there is a former St. Paul Lutheran Church, which was moved to the grounds in 1967. The Lustron House in the Historical Village is furnished with authentic items in the style of the 1950s. These three details offer different points of interest for a visit: the origins of the historic village, a relocated church building, and the furnishings of a mid-20th-century home.

Fort Zarah also tells the story of the region’s history. It was built where the Santa Fe Trail, Walnut Creek, and Smoky Hill Military Road met. A second Fort Zarah was established on June 30, 1866, with stone buildings about half a mile northwest of the first fort, north of Highway 56 and east of the present-day park. It was abandoned in December 1869.

Exhibits, Architecture, and Walking Tours

Kansas Oil & Gas Hall of Fame and Museum offers a guided tour through various phases of oil and gas production: from geology and drilling to extraction and the manufacture of products. The museum also features portraits and biographies of more than 50 local and state members. This offers two different ways to explore the topic: technical processes and personal stories.

In Great Bend, walking tours through downtown take in the Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco architectural styles of historic buildings and sites. Shafer Art Gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., subject to Barton’s academic closures. Check the schedule before your visit.

For outdoor exercise, the completed first phase of the Great Bend Riverside Hike & Bike Path begins at the Front Door at 10th & Hubbard. Those interested in birds of prey can find educational displays about these animals at the Raptor Center at Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo, as well as a window offering a view into the animal clinic. The Raptor Center is open 362 days a year; check the schedule before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Ellinwood, Great Bend, Olmitz, Hoisington, Johnson, Lyon, Dickinson County, Crawford.

For the broader travel overview: Kansas.