Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway
Places to Visit
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Barton County Arts Council Gallery (KS)
Built in 1872 and located in the heart of downtown, the Barton County Arts Council Gallery was the first stone building in Great Bend. The gallery includes an exhibit on Oscar Micheaux, the first African American filmmaker.
Location: 1401 Main (Corner of Forest and Main)
Great Bend, KS -
Barton County Courthouse Square (KS)
The Barton County Courthouse takes center stage in the Great Bend town square. Built in 1918 in the Modern Classical Eclecticism style, the building houses marble flooring and stairs. The Civil War Soldier Monument stands nearby.
Location: 1400 Main Street
Great Bend, Kansas -
Barton County Historical Museum and Village (KS)
Spanning five acres, the Barton County Historical Museum and Village allows you to glimpse Kansas' past from the Paleo Period to the Civil War to World War II and beyond.
Location: 85 S. Hwy 281
Great Bend, Kansas -
Central Kansas Raptor Rehab Education Facility (KS)
The center focuses on rehabilitating injured raptors and educating groups about the impact humans have on habitats.
Distance from byway: 6 mi / 9.7 km Travel time: 15 minutes Directions: For directions, check under Navigation in "Before You Go."
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Cheyenne Bottoms Scenic Overlook (KS)
This overlook provides the only elevated view of the entire Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands basin.
Location: The overlook is located on a pull off along K-4 highway.
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Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (KS)
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks operates 19,857 acres of the Bottoms as a wildlife management area.
Location: Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area east entrance is located on US-156 Highway at the intersection with NE-50.
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The peaceful Eden Valley Cemetery is home to the graves of several Exodusters, emancipated slaves who came to the area seeking a place to start a new life after the Civil War.
Location: At the corner of NW 20th Ave and NW 180th St in Great Bend, KS.
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A small town with a friendly and open atmosphere, Ellinwood is nestled between two nationally known wetlands, Cheyenne Bottoms and the Quivira Wildlife Refuge. Aside from excellent hunting and bird watching just fifteen minutes from town, Ellinwood hosts many cultural activities throughout the year.
Distance from byway: On the byway Directions: From the byway, head east on US-56 until you reach Ellinwood.
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Visit Great Bend and find a wide variety of things to do while enjoying a small town with all the amenities of a small city. History buffs, bird watchers, drag racers, hunters and tourists of all types looking for a new experience will find a unique destination here on the Great Plains.
Distance from byway: On the byway Directions: From the byway, head west on US-56 to the city of Great Bend.
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Developed in the late 1890s, the Great Bend Cemetery houses over a century's worth of stories. From murder victims to Civil War veterans to those claimed by the 1918 influenza outbreak, each tombstone marks a life.
Location: 4500 Broadway Avenue
Great Bend, Kansas
