Pottawatomie County: Routes, Museums and Prairie

Pottawatomie County lies in the Glaciated Region and the Flint Hills Uplands. Historic routes, mission and museum history, prairie and water activities offer different ways to shape your trip—from cultural history to nature experiences.

Landscape and Historic Routes

The Native Stone Scenic Byway is designated as a scenic route in Pottawatomie County. The historic routes also have different geographic contexts: the Oregon Trail passed through the county, while the Pike’s Peak Trail ran along its northern edge. Those exploring the history of these routes can distinguish between a trail that crossed the county and one that specifically followed its northern edge.

Missions, Museums and Historic Buildings

The Jesuits founded the Indian Mission in St. Marys in 1848. The St. Marys Indian Pay Station Museum Complex features exhibits about the early years of the St. Marys Mission, the Indian Pay Station, the original St. Marys College and the city of St. Marys. These topics span the history of the mission, the Pay Station and the city’s development.

The Wamego Historical Museum and Prairie Village offers a different focus: it includes authentic 19th-century buildings and traces local history from the Konza and Potawatomi Indigenous peoples to the Underground Railroad. The Pottawatomie County Fair Pavilion adds a distinctive round barn to the historic buildings: built in 1921, it is one of the few remaining round barns of its kind in Kansas.

The Columbian Theatre was built in 1895 and presents professional productions ranging from Broadway musicals to concerts. The program may change, so if a performance is important to your plans, check the current schedule. At the OZ Museum, the exhibits range from more than 100 years of Oz history to original costumes and props used in the 1939 MGM film. The theater program and preserved film artifacts thus offer different ways to experience culture and entertainment.

Prairie, Nature Trails and History

Oregon Trail Nature Park encompasses 19 acres of Kansas natural ecosystems. Its three nature trails pass lakes, streams and wooded areas. A silo in the park features an original mural by local artist Cynthia Martin. The landscape along the trails and the mural offer different points of interest for a visit that brings nature and art together.

Mount Mitchell combines a climb to the summit through native prairie with several historical connections: the site is associated with Bleeding Kansas, the Kansas Territory and the Underground Railroad. Those interested in the history of the Kansas Territory will find a landscape here that is also linked to these historical themes.

Spring Festival, Wine and Paddling

The Tulip Festival in Wamego takes place each spring; exact dates may change. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for your chosen year. This helps you take the spring tradition into account when planning without assuming a specific event date.

There are two different places to go for wine tastings: 456 Wineries offers tastings and wine sales from several wineries. Oz Winery has a tasting room where visitors can sample wines. One venue brings together wines from different wineries, while the other offers a dedicated tasting room.

Paddling is possible on the Kansas River between Manhattan and Wamego. The area by the boat ramp has picnic areas, restrooms and a parking lot. Since restroom availability may change, it’s best to check before your visit.

Check the dates for each event if you want to plan your stay around one.

Discover more destinations: Wamego, St. Marys, Stevens County, Harvey County, Crawford, Butler, Finney, Phillips County.

For the main travel overview: Kansas.