Near Kismet in Seward County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Arkalon and the Samson of the Cimarron
By Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012
1. Arkalon and the Samson of the Cimarron Marker
Many Kansas towns originated as potential railroad centers. Three miles west of this marker Arkalon was founded in 1888 at the Cimarron river crossing of the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska railway, a part of the Rock Island. Town lots were cheap, and people flocked in by the hundreds. However, the deep sand of the area was a serious handicap to the movement of horse-drawn freight, and the town never succeeded in establishing itself as a profitable marketing point. It was sustained for years by the large stockyards but by the 1920's most of the population had gone.Mighty Samson bridge over the Cimarron river in Seward County, Kansas The railroad, slowed by a hairpin curve and plagued by flooding on the Cimarron which brought severe damage to equipment and freight, diverted several miles of track from the town to utilize the bridge it erected here in 1939. Called the Samson of the Cimarron, the bridge is 1269 feet long and was considered an engineering marvel of the day. It helped speed the commerce of the Southwest to its destination, and Arkalon to oblivion.
Thirteen miles southwest is Liberal, established on the railroad in 1888, and
By Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012
2. Arkalon and the Samson of the Cimarron Marker
Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Department. (Marker Number 93.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Kansas Historical Society series list.
Location. 37° 8.996′ N, 100° 44.978′ W. Marker is near Kismet, Kansas, in Seward County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of U.S. 54 and Panhandle Road. Marker is in roadside park on north side of US-54. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kismet KS 67859, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fargo Springs and Springfield (approx. 10.7 miles away); When Coronado came to Kansas (approx. 11.9 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 12 miles away); Seward County War Dead and Missing in Action (approx. 12 miles away); International Pancake Day (approx. 12 miles away); Liberal Memorial Library (approx. 12 miles away); The Pioneer Mother of Kansas (approx. 12 miles away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 12 miles away).
By Bill Kirchner, April 17, 2012
3. The Samson of the Cimarron
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 594 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 11, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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