Wichita County: Railroad History and Prairie Culture

A well rooted in railroad history connects a tangible structure in Wichita County with a route plan that was never completed. Museums and historic buildings in Leoti and Wichita County offer further ways to explore the area’s history, remarkable architecture, and life on the prairie. If you’d like to add cultural activities to your stay, you can explore these subjects according to your interests—from railroad construction to County Fair traditions.

Selkirk Well and Railroad History

Selkirk Well was built in 1887 for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad’s Great Bend Extension. Its construction is unusually easy to see: the well is lined with stone all the way to the bottom, with rails set at intervals for stability. The route plan is also part of its history. The well was intended for a Santa Fe rail line toward Denver; however, the line was never completed and ended in Selkirk. At Selkirk Well, the completed structure and an unfinished railroad project thus stand side by side. The site also includes a railroad depot and a Santa Fe Railroad caboose. Check visitor information before your arrival.

Museums and Local History

The Wichita County Historical Society Museum displays a 36-star U.S. flag associated with Abraham Lincoln, as well as the “Old Town” Leoti exhibit. Together, these present an individual object connected with Lincoln and a portrayal of local history. The museum’s main building is accessible; check any specific details that matter to you before your visit. The Museum of the Great Plains adds more local history to your itinerary with exhibits on Old Leoti City and the dispute over the county seat.

Buildings, Art, and Architecture in Leoti

The William B. and Julia Washington House in Leoti was built in 1892 in the Queen Anne style, with Free Classic elements. It is among the best-preserved examples of this style in Wichita County. Leoti’s Municipal Auditorium & City Hall tells a different story of construction: this single-story limestone building was built from 1939 to 1942 as a WPA project using local labor. It housed the city government, fire department, and auditorium. Its construction date, building material, and former uses make it another testament to the county’s architectural history.

Local art also draws on the region’s history. Three murals commissioned in 2007 at 201 North 4th Street in Leoti depict prehistoric times in western Kansas and honor Marion Bonner, a paleontologist from Wichita County. Margie’s Boutique and Millinery Shop, located in the Washington-Ames House, features an exhibit of women’s hats. Tours were offered by appointment; check before your trip to see whether this option is currently available.

Prairie, Barn Quilts, and Local Traditions

In Wichita County, stone circles mark former tipi sites where Indigenous families lived while hunting on the prairies. This aspect of the landscape complements the area’s local and architectural history with a glimpse of life on the prairie. Those interested in visible patterns and local routes can also explore the Wichita County Barn Quilt Trail along the Western Vistas Historic Byway. The Wichita County Barn Quilt Tour visits numerous quilt patterns on houses, barns, and businesses.

The countryside around Leoti and most of Wichita County are well suited to stargazing at night because of the low levels of light pollution. Visibility depends on the weather and season. The Wichita County Fair offers another reason to visit: its long-standing traditions include a parade, an Old Settlers’ Breakfast, and a rodeo. It is traditionally held on the last weekend in July; check the dates for the year you plan to travel.

Discover more destinations: Marienthal, Morris County, Thomas County, Wilson, Sherman County, Anderson, Logan County, Cloud County

For the overview of destinations: Kansas.