2008 Woodie Awards
Day trippin'
Kansas, Missouri offer attractions that won't break the bank
Abby Olcese
Issue date: 6/14/07 Section: After Hours
Students stuck in Pittsburg for the summer may be feeling at a loss. After all, Pittsburg is a small town, and with a more relaxed schedule during these warmer months, it can be hard to stay entertained. Going to the movie theater every day can become expensive, and escalating gas prices make day trips more difficult, too. Going to Kansas City or Lawrence and back in one day easily takes up a whole tank.
So, what's a stir-crazy PSU student to do? Never fear. There are several places of interest in Kansas and Missouri that you can make a day out of without worrying too much about burning up gas. Here are a few.
Kansas:
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott
Web site: nps.gov/fosc
What it is: Fort Scott is a former military fort that served as a stopping point for pioneers during the 1840s, and later as a post during the Civil War. Now it is a museum where visitors can tour the fort's buildings, learn about the history of the fort, and also about the pre-Civil War border skirmishes between Kansas and Missouri in the period known as "Bleeding Kansas."
Operating Hours:
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Sunday, April-October.
Admission:
$3. Annual park passes are available for $15.
Summer Events:
July 4: Highlights In History museum tour.
July 7: Frontier Garrison Life re-enactment tour.
Big Brutus
West Mineral
Web site: bigbrutus.org
What it is: Big Brutus is the second-largest electric shovel in the world, now retired from its days of digging mines in the 60s and 70s. Visitors can tour inside the cab of the shovel, as well as learn about Southeast Kansas' mining heritage.
Hours: 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Admission:
$5
The Brown Mansion
Coffeyville
Web site: brownmansion.com
What it is: The former home of Coffeyville entrepreneur William Pitzer Brown is now a museum dedicated to this history of the family and the early twentieth century period in which they lived.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
So, what's a stir-crazy PSU student to do? Never fear. There are several places of interest in Kansas and Missouri that you can make a day out of without worrying too much about burning up gas. Here are a few.
Kansas:
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott
Web site: nps.gov/fosc
What it is: Fort Scott is a former military fort that served as a stopping point for pioneers during the 1840s, and later as a post during the Civil War. Now it is a museum where visitors can tour the fort's buildings, learn about the history of the fort, and also about the pre-Civil War border skirmishes between Kansas and Missouri in the period known as "Bleeding Kansas."
Operating Hours:
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Sunday, April-October.
Admission:
$3. Annual park passes are available for $15.
Summer Events:
July 4: Highlights In History museum tour.
July 7: Frontier Garrison Life re-enactment tour.
Big Brutus
West Mineral
Web site: bigbrutus.org
What it is: Big Brutus is the second-largest electric shovel in the world, now retired from its days of digging mines in the 60s and 70s. Visitors can tour inside the cab of the shovel, as well as learn about Southeast Kansas' mining heritage.
Hours: 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Admission:
$5
The Brown Mansion
Coffeyville
Web site: brownmansion.com
What it is: The former home of Coffeyville entrepreneur William Pitzer Brown is now a museum dedicated to this history of the family and the early twentieth century period in which they lived.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Cynthia
posted 6/14/07 @ 4:54 PM EST
Okay, I realize I am old now (1995 graduate) but I spent all my summers working and taking classes at PSU. Yes, there isn't a great deal of entertainment. (Continued…)
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