I visited south central Kansas recently. If you asked me what I most remembered about my visit, I…read morewould say "ghosts" and "Ellinwood Underground Tunnels." If you're in Ellinwood or anywhere near this area, you need to take the tour. It's so interesting! There are tunnels under this small Kansas town, and the public (you) can experience them. The tour will lead you through a portion of the network of tunnels, and the tour guide will tell you all about the history. The tour starts at the Ellinwood Emporium, a charming little thrift/vintage store. You'll descend some stairs to the underground tunnels, where you'll learn about the activity that was happening in the tunnels in the late 1800s. The tunnels were a place to get a haircut and a shave, a place to bathe, a place to shop and relax. But also: Apparently, some stuff went down and now the tunnels also house spirits. There's one room that you'll see on the tour that the owner will not walk into, because there's a spirit in there that he doesn't want to mess with. Each room that you see on the tour is grim and creepy. The space in the Ellinwood Tunnels is heady, and is definitely housing some sort of bad energy, if you ask me. Head's up: This tour is not wheelchair- or stroller-friendly. You need to be able to climb down and up some steep stairs, and then navigate your way through tunnels, which have uneven ground.

It makes me sad that there aren't many reviews for these underground tunnels (outside of Yelp as…read morewell.) This was one of the most fascinating things we did while visiting this part of the country and I really wish that it was more of a destination. Listen, I understand. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere and the square footage is pretty low. However, Rick, the guide and owner (??) of the antique shop that sits above one portion of the tunnels is an incredible story teller and he has actual items that lived in and were used in the underground portion of this town. It's like a time capsule. I've been on other underground tours (like in Seattle) and even though they're more visited and more well known, they don't hold a candle to what Rick has. This isn't a kitschy, fake tour. This is about real and actual history, with real, appropriate artifacts and I loved it. The tour when you come back upstairs and head across the street to the hotel is a little bit different. The building, including the underground, was empty when they purchased it so all the items they have down there are found, bought or donated. But at least they are honest about it and don't make up fake stories for you. It's such a cool thing to do for such a minimal fee. I'd recommend this tour to anyone.

Next stop on our cross-country road trip was one I've been wanting do for years! The Twister…read moremuseum. We actually added about 3 hours on our drive just so I could visit! Twister is my favorite movie, so visiting was huge for me. The ladies at the museum had so much information and behind-the-scenes knowledge. There are artifacts from the originally movie, photos, letters, costumes and even THE original Dorothy from the movie. There are pieces from the new Twisters movie, including the yellow barrels and trailer used in the film. The museum is free, but they operate on donations, so please donate to keep this gem open. Also, but some merch to help them out!

If you're a fan of the 1996 movie Twister, or you're fascinated by tornadoes and storm chasing, the…read moreTwister Movie Museum in Wakita is an interesting stop. I surprised my wife (cue the eye roll ) with a two-hour drive from Edmond to visit the filming location. The drive through rural Oklahoma was enjoyable and actually helped set the mood for thinking about the movie and why this area was chosen. The museum is housed in what was once the production office during filming, which is a neat piece of history in itself. Inside you'll find movie memorabilia, photos from the set, props, Dorothy, the yellow "Twister" barrels, a Twister pinball machine (which was donated by Bill Paxton), and plenty of behind-the-scenes items that fans will appreciate. The highlight of our visit was Linda, the museum host. Lori and I were the only visitors, so we had the opportunity to ask lots of questions. Linda was friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to share stories about the filming and the town's connection to the movie. She definitely made the visit more enjoyable. We spent about 30 minutes exploring everything. So, was it worth a two-hour drive? That depends. If you're a die-hard Twister fan, a storm-chasing enthusiast, or someone like me who enjoys checking unique Oklahoma destinations off a retirement bucket list, I'd say yes. If you're simply looking for a major museum experience, you may find it a little underwhelming. For me, it was a fun adventure, an enjoyable drive through Oklahoma, and another memorable stop on our travels. Rating: (3/5) - Worth visiting if it matches your interests, especially if you're already exploring north-central Oklahoma.

The Big Well Museum puts Greensburg, KS on the map. Not only does it feature the obvious, it also…read morechronicles the town's near-obliteration by a tornado and remarkable recovery since (with massive federal help). I wish there were a way to find out how the eco-friendly rebuild is actually working out. Is the solar power reliable? Did the money spent on extra insulation eventually pay for itself? There's no way to know; it's presented as a panacea. If I could change just one thing about the exhibits, it would be to introduce a 3 letter word: "sic". "Sic" would would show that the exhibit's creators knew about and were accurately reproducing the errors in quoted newspaper articles. "The supply of water found to inexhaustible." [sic] "There are about 4,000 gallons of water to the inch in the well" [sic]. (The well's diameter of 32 feet gives 500 gallons per inch, not 4,000.) Without "sic", most of the errors just look like typos.

It was very clean. The gift shop was very full and had very interesting items. The bathrooms were…read morenice and clean. The staff was very kind and kept the conversation engaging. The museum was gorgeous and informative.

Well worth a visit! Great staff and with interesting displays that flows through history nicely.read more

It was a pretty fun time with the family. I just wished they had a better prize for finding the…read morelittle dinosaur, suggesting a sticker or key chain. But otherwise it was interesting seeing all the different things inside.

Not worth the price. The museum is neat and good history. The locals hyped up the shootout but it…read morewas pricy for what it was. To each their own.

We enjoyed the overall show and dinner the museum has great exhibits. Don't pass this place up .read more

05/2026 While driving through Hutchinson, Kansas, my wife…read moreand I stopped at Troy's BBQ for lunch. During our meal, the owner came by to check on us and asked what brought us to the area. We told him we were just passing through on our way home and asked if there was anything worth seeing nearby. He recommended the local space museum and Strataca, the underground salt mine. After finishing lunch, we decided to check out the salt mine since it was only a short drive away. When we arrived, the building looked more like a regular business office than a tourist attraction. Inside, there's a ticket counter where you purchase your tour tickets, along with displays and information about the mine. As luck would have it, we were the last two people admitted for the day's tours. After receiving our hard hats and a brief orientation, we headed to the elevator. It felt a little strange seeing an elevator in the middle of the building that takes visitors 650 feet underground. The ride down takes about a minute and a half in near darkness, adding to the anticipation. When the elevator doors opened, it felt like stepping into another world. Despite being hundreds of feet underground, it looked like a massive building with no windows. The size of the chambers carved entirely out of salt is incredible. The first part of the tour is self-guided and explains how the salt is mined, the machinery involved, and how dynamite is used to break apart the salt deposits for harvesting. After that, board a train that travels through parts of the mine, showing where mining operations began and explaining what life was like for the miners, including break and lunch area. Learn about the equipment used and more. Dark Ride tour, where a guide drives you through additional sections of the mine on a golf cart while sharing stories and information about its history and operation. The tunnels stretch for miles, and since mining still takes place today, it's fascinating to see how much of the mine remains active. They even host special events, dinner theaters, and private functions underground. This was one of the most unique attractions we've visited and far exceeded our expectations. An excellent tour from start to finish, and we would absolutely do it again.

We had a great time at the Salt Mines. We learned so much. The best part was the very kind and…read morehelpful staff! It's great for kids over the age of 4. I learned all I never knew about salt.

This was a special surprise for me. I really enjoyed my visit. Everyone will enjoy this museum -…read moreespecially Motorcyle buffs

I've been to Daytona I ve been to the HD museum and would…read morehave bet money that I would find some bikes I had never seen in Marquette kansas Well I would have lost If you like old iron or just love racing and some vintage bikes you HAVE TO come see this hidden treasure But I will warn you if you visits Marquette you need to be careful because you will want to never leave An amazing place

We had an excellent time on our trip to the Cosmosphere with our 7-year old daughter…read more The Dr. Goddard's Lab show is great for kids and adults. Lots of fun fire and experiments to keep the kids entertained and a lot of new information for the adults. We also watched the planetarium show. This was fun. There is a concession stand where we got some popcorn, drinks and candy. The flight simulator is definitely fun too. If you go, sitting in the front row is a must. It's worth waiting if you can get a front row seat. All-around good time! :)

An amazing collection of flown space artifacts! So glad that I visited…read more My only complaint is the lighting of some exhibits needs improvement.