West Point: Parks, Museums and Festivals
Accommodation in West Point
West Point offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: a park route through the town, museums exploring transportation and local history, and recurring festivals. If you’re planning a hotel stay, you can first consider whether your interests lie more in parks, local history, or festival dates.
Parks and Trails in West Point
The Kitty Bryan Dill Memorial Parkway runs for 3.75 miles through West Point, connecting five local parks. It is also known as the Kitty Dill Memorial Parkway. The route can therefore be described both by its length and by the number of parks it connects.
In 2005, the U.S. Department of the Interior designated the Parkway a National Recreation Trail. This designation adds to the description of the route as a link in the local park network. Sally Kate Winters Park is right next to downtown West Point. These are two distinct park-related options: the Parkway, which connects five local parks, and a park directly beside downtown.
Museums on Local and Transportation History
The Sam Wilhite Transportation Museum traces the development of transportation systems in the West Point area over a period of 200 years. The restored Friday House is home to a museum with exhibits on the history of West Point. An exhibit on Payne Field commemorates the Clay County pilot training base from the First World War era. The topics differ considerably: the Sam Wilhite Transportation Museum covers a long history of transportation, while the Friday House Museum includes a specific episode in pilot training.
The Sam Wilhite Transportation Museum is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; visits are also possible by special appointment. Check the opening hours again before your visit, as they may change. This lets you take the listed visiting hours into account when planning your day and arrange a special appointment if you plan to visit at another time.
Festivals and Blues Tradition
The Prairie Arts Festival takes place every year in downtown West Point on the Saturday before Labor Day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and features more than 600 exhibits. The set hours give your visit a clear framework; since the annual program may vary, check the date and program before your trip if the festival is a key part of your stay.
The Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival also takes place annually in West Point. It is a memorial festival honoring Howlin’ Wolf and is sponsored by the Howlin’ Wolf Blues Society and local organizations. The two festivals have different focuses: exhibits and a set annual time frame define the Prairie Arts Festival, while the Howlin’ Wolf Memorial Blues Festival centers on remembering the musician. You can therefore plan your trip around either a specific event date or the blues tradition.
For the broader travel overview: Clay.
