The Land and Sky Scenic Byway
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Points of Interest

The Land and Sky Scenic Byway, also, Points of Interest. . , The Land and Sky Scenic Byway , In the High Plains of Western Kansas, the first Native Americans in the area were nomadic, relying on the area's large herds of bison. As the Spanish brought their horses to the Americas, horse culture developed across the region with tribal allies such as the Cheyenne and Arapaho. Due to the drier climate and active native populations, settlement in western Kansas occurred gradually during the late 19th century, often tied to the railroad which, motivated by profit, surveyed towns and encouraged settlement on railroad-owned or employee-owned land. Homesteaders interested in more traditional farming practices fought open grazing while driving back Native Americans, thus developing Western Kansas in their image. Unfortunately, overgrazing, surface water depletion, and agricultural practices led to the Dust Bowl, depopulating the area but paving the way to modern conservation practices. Mechanization, center-pivot irrigation, and wheat adapted to drier climates all allowed agriculture to flourish. However, as the source of water for a multi-state region, the Ogallala Aquifer continues to be depleted, increasing the need to further adapt agriculture in the region. These stories are told along the Byway at the unique communities and in the surrounding fields, allowing visitors to understand Kan and its agricultural background in a new and engaging way. Best of all the Byway experience need not end here. Travelers can continue east to explore the exciting Western Vistas Historic Byway., The Landscapes of Kansas , Kansas includes a wide variety of landscapes, shaped by both geologic processes and human activities, such as farming and mining. Many of our Byways are based on unique landforms and habitats that provide wonder and pleasure to resident and visitor alike. Along this Byway, some of the most striking views come from the expansive High Plains and breathtaking sky, which draw your eyes to the horizon. These also serve to highlight the natural beauty of the area including the spectacular Arikaree Breaks., Physiographic Regions of Kansas , Based on common landscape features and geological history, geologists have divided Kansas into the 11 different regions shown on the map. These regions (sometimes called physiographic provinces) each tell its own story about Kansas' geology., (Map Captions related to Physiological Regions of Kansas , High Plains , Excellent farmlands slopes gently downward from the west., Smoky Hills , A larger sea once covered this area of astonishing rock formations., Arkansas River Lowlands , Irregular hills and dunes follow an ancient river path., Red Hills , Sandstone and shale mix with areas of rugged hills, buttes, and mesas., Washington and McPherson Lowlands , Permeable sand covers an area surrounded by salt marshes., Flint Hills , This scenic prairie is named for the flint rock that covers the grassy slopes., Glaciated Region , Rounded hills and broad valleys feature glacial deposits of quartzite., Osage Cuestas , This broad terrace panorama has steeper eastern slopes than western slopes., Chautauqua Hills , This province is only a few miles width with underlying thick sandstone., Cherokee Lowlands , Bituminous coal veins near the surface of this region reveal its mining history., Ozark Plateau , This extreme southeast corner of the state is rich with fossils. , Bridging the American Divide , Storylines of the Kansas Byways , The railroad is integral to the advancement of agriculture in the region, transporting the areas bounty to larger markets, Bridging the American Divide. Thus, railroads could make or break towns, as seen by the relocation of residence from Wano to present-day St. Francis., Captions , Golden grasses of Kansas , A cow grazes in the Kansas grasses. , Wheat field , A worker packs dry beans at 21st Century Bean in Sharon Springs. , A handful of sorghum. , Grain elevator , Sunflower field., Points of Interest , Arikaree Breaks , 14 miles north of St Francis on County Road 15 or Devils Gap 13 miles north of St. Francis and west along County Road 17. , The Arikaree Breaks are a unique area of canyons and badlands that stand distinctly different to the High Plains. The rugged but beautiful terrain is definitely worth visiting with its breathtaking views of the landscape. Come prepared to drive the "Breaks" with a full tank of gas as the roads may be challenging to travel in bad weather., Cherry Creek Encampment , 1 mile north of the K-27 and US-36 intersection west of St. Francis on K-27 , After the massacre of the Cheyenne at Sand Creek, survivors gathered at Cherry Creek, attacked Julesburg, Colorado and invited tribes in the Black Hills to join them in what became the Plains War., South Fork Wildlife Area , The South Fork Wildlife Area is located 12.5 miles northeast of St Francis in Cheyenne County. , The area ls bisected by the Republican River and has a mixture of grasslands, crop fields, and riparian timber. These food sources attract white-talled deer, mule deer, and Rio Grande turkeys., Cheyenne County Museum , 201 W. US-36, St. Francis , The Cheyenne County Museum shares the history of the area through displays and furniture, and it also describes remarkable residents like astronaut Ron Evans, who orbited the moon., Cheyenne Center for Creativity , 109 N. Quincy Street, St. Francis , Cheyenne Center for Creativity supports arts within St. Francis through the Quincy Gallery and numerous events such as lectures, art and handcraft exhibits, and lessons., St. Francis Motorcycle Museum , 110 E. Washington Street, St Francis , The St. Francis Motorcycle Museum in downtown St Francis houses more than 100 vintage motorcycles, including big names like Hariey Davidson as well as lesser known manufacturers., St. Francis Wildlife Area , West of St. Francis on US-36 and south on County Road 13/877 , The St Francis Wildife Area ls located three miles west and two miles south of St Francis. The area is bisected by the Republican River, and is a mixture of grasslands, crop flelds. and riparian timber. The grasslands are occaslonally grazed or burned In the spring to increase range health. Food plots are planted and many consist of wheat. corn, milo, sunflower, and alfalfa., Tractor Parts Grasshopper North , of Goodland on K-27 , Known as the Goodland Grasshopper, this official piece of Kansas folk art was created by the late Lloyd Harden out of discarded tractor and implement parts. After his death, the Grasshopper was moved to its current spot and painted in John Deere green and yellow., Sherman Wildlife Area , 1710 Sherman County Road 54 Goodland , Smoky Gardens, Soldiers Memorial Park offers a place to picnic, camp, and fish in the great outdoors. The park also has a walking trall and disc golf course around the lake. , Kidder Massacre Site , Sherman County Road 28 and County Road 77, Goodland , In 1867, Lt. Lyman S. Kidder and his patrol were massacred while carrying dispatches for George Custer. Their deaths were the first event to be recorded in the Goodland area. , Carnegie Arts Center , 120 W. 12th Street, Goodland , Since 1978, the Goodland Arts Council, now housed in the former Carnegle Public Library, displays art exhibits in addition to holding workshops, recitals, demonstrations, lectures, and concerts., High Plains Museum , 177 Cherry Street, Goodland , The High Plains Muscum, a local history repository for over 50 years, features exhibits from its collection of 8,000 plus objects representing over 100 years of Northwestern Kansas history. , Mount Sunflower , 38 miles southwest of Goodland or 13 miles north of Sharon Springs along K-27 turn west on Blue Bird Road , At more than 4,000 feet above sea level, Mount Sunflower is the highest point in Kansas. A monument marks the spot. Enjoy a picnic and sign the guest book in the mail box., The Wrench Museum , 29 N. Kennedy Street. Sharon Springs , Dale Radiel has spent a lifetime collecting tools. The museum walls are covered from floor to celling with over 10,000 wrenches and other tools., Fort Wallace Cemetery and Fort Wallace Museum , US-40, Wallace , The Fort Wallace Museum offers a main bulding with two historic side bulldings and an exhibit housing a chuckwagon. Conestoga, fire engines, barbed-wire sculpture, and bronze statue of Wililam A Comstock. The Pond Creek Stage Station (1865) is the oldest bullding in western Kansas. To the southeast, Fort Wallace Cemetery contains the remains of civillans and soldiers. An obelisk honoring members of George Custer's Seventh Cavalry who died in the Indian War of 1867, and a marker for the German famlly, massacred in 1874., Captions , High Plains Museum, Goodland , The United Telephone Building in Goodland is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. , White Eagle Gas Station, Goodland