Discover Newton

Newton brings together several themes to consider when planning a trip: the history of railroads and cattle shipping, historic districts, art, and trails and parks. To choose a hotel, it helps to first narrow down the focus of your stay—perhaps to local history, art, or time outdoors.

Cattle Shipping, Railroads and Historic Districts

Newton became a short-lived shipping point for cattle on the Santa Fe Railroad, where the railroad met the Abilene/Chisholm Trail. Between 1871 and 1873, Texas Longhorn cattle were shipped from Newton to the East Coast. Together, these details offer insight into the importance of cattle shipping in the city’s history while also identifying a specific period.

Newton has three national historic districts: two downtown commercial districts and one residential district. A guide for a downtown walk is available through the Harvey County Historical Museum or online. The booklet’s content can be updated separately; if you plan your walk around it, check the current edition. The museum’s archives and research library preserve early records from Harvey County that may be useful for family, house, and local history research.

Art and Architecture

The Carriage Factory Art Gallery is located in a historic former carriage factory and offers people of all ages opportunities to experience, learn about, perform, share, and celebrate art. Classes in several art forms are offered there year-round. The age groups and participants suited to a particular class vary, so if a class is important to your plans, check the details of that specific offering.

Historic buildings also offer different perspectives. The Old Mill is an example of the adaptive reuse of a historic building. The Warkentin House was built in the Queen Anne style in 1886–1887; 80% of its original fixtures and finishes remain. This makes it possible to compare the adaptive reuse of a building with a specific look at its construction period, architectural style, and preserved features.

The Newton Murals & Arts Project has initiated several public artworks around the city, including collaboratively developed projects. Newton’s Blue Sky Sculpture is located in Centennial Park near the intersection of 12th Street and Kansas Avenue and was named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art. A path and steps offer visitors additional ways to interact with the sculpture. This places community art projects alongside a single, clearly located work.

Trails and Parks

The Sand Creek Trail is just under 7 miles long, follows Sand Creek through Newton to Bethel College in North Newton, and is used for biking and walking. Most of the trail is paved; near the Kauffman Museum there are more heavily wooded, unpaved sections. Amenities include drinking fountains for people and dogs, benches, and a boat landing at Fourth Street. Its length, route, and surface give the trail a different character from a single park.

Athletic Park was established in 1897 and covers 39.12 acres, with open lawns, mature trees, and diverse wildlife. Centennial Park has baseball, softball, and soccer fields, a dog park, a Pod Park, a disc golf course, and a playground. The individual facilities may change over time. If a particular facility is important to your plans, check its current status before visiting. This lets you distinguish between a trail along Sand Creek, park facilities, and a landscape of lawns, trees, and wildlife.

A Monthly Downtown Event

Third Thursday is a monthly downtown program featuring late-night shopping, dining, activities, and family-oriented events. Specific activities vary. If the program is important to your trip, check the dates and details in advance.

Explore more destinations: Hesston.

Return to the main travel overview: Harvey County.