We had a terrific time touring the museum!…read more I especially enjoyed the mill portion of this Lindsborg tour, and especially (as also appealed to fellow Yelper Sarah G.) the St. Louis World's Fair Swedish pavilion so carefully transported and displayed. Whoever said that a jaunt through a small Scandinavian-heavy town in rural Kansas could be so much fun? Must recommend to friends in both Kansas City and Wichita alike, plus anyone else who happens to be zig-zagging through the Midwest in search of something fun and informative all at once.

My family greatly enjoyed our visit. The exhibits are well done in the museum. Lots of artifacts…read moreand examples early town life. The story of Lindsborg is carefully documented and easy to follow. The mill is beautifully restored and looks as if it could operate today. My family experienced a wonderful afternoon exploring the buildings and the museum. Lots to see and experience!

The McPherson Museum in Kansas turned out to be one of those small-town treasures that you almost…read moremiss and then immediately realize what a shame that would have been, because it's packed with the kind of local history and charm that makes the detour feel absolutely worth it. The collection blends memorabilia, community history, and artworks in a way that feels both personal and surprisingly expansive, and the curation is wonderfully professional so you can slow down and appreciate each exhibit without feeling rushed or crowded. It's the sort of place where every corner has something that catches your eye. I loved the mix of standout items, from the quirky "Not-an-MGM" taxidermized lion to the paintings that highlight regional talent, and of course the perfectly restored Model A Ford that looks like it rolled straight out of a showroom from nearly a century ago. Everything is laid out with care, and the museum's flow makes it easy to wander, longer, and enjoy the story of McPherson without ever feeling overwhelmed. It's a reminder of how much pride and history can be packed into a small Kansas town. The museum is free to visit, though they have a small gift display and happily accept donations, and supporting a place like this feels good because it's clearly a labor of love. If you're anywhere in eastern Kansas, don't skip this stop because it's a genuine treat and one of those local museums that stays with you long after you've left. [Review 763 of 2026 - 110 in Kansas - 25944 overall]

Excellent exhibits related to the history of McPherson and its surroundings. This place shows a lot…read moreof community pride and would not exist without the help of many volunteers and supporters. McPherson is a charming town that is fun to visit and still maintains a healthy economy with good schools and businesses. I am a bit prejudiced because I grew up here from 1943 to 1952 and have happy memories of this friendly midwestern town -- it resembles a time-warp that takes you back to a simpler time. My visit happened on Aug. 2, 2017.

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.

Definitely the weirdest and quirkiest place I have been to in all my travels. Certainly very unique…read moreand I was not expecting to see The Main Dude in a state of decomposition in the backyard mausoleum. Yes, the embalmed body of the guy who built the Garden of Eden is on display in a glass-topped coffin. The entire place is bizarre and is built out of concrete. And the construction did not begin till the artist - an eccentric civil war vet with WILD political and religious ideas - was well into his 60s. The guided tour is nice and gives a good history about the place and the artist. Recommend visiting if you are in the Lucas/Wilson area. Weird. Delightfully weird.

My wife and I decided to take a different route home from Colorado to Texas and ended up cutting…read morethrough Kansas. On the way, we saw a sign for Garden of Eden as we travelled on I-70. We are so happy we took the time to go off the beaten path to see this place! Unfortunately, it had closed an hour or so prior by the time we arrived, so we could only read the signs outside and observe the exterior art. We really would have loved to see the inside. This is definitely a hidden gem and something out of the norm!

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.

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.

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.

Great, quick, and free spot to hang for a bit and check out some cool, local Kansas artists and…read moretheir works! Loved the diversity in artists, but wish there was more informative history about the artists or work. There was only a sentence or two about most pieces and it didn't really give me the background or meaning the piece was telling. Parking could've been a little clearer as well as I didn't know if I was in the correct lot or the student one which does get ticketed.

It's a small museum and they kind of try and do a little bit of everything with it, just in small…read moreversions. When I visited, there was a modern photography exhibit, a small exhibit displaying 1800s Kansas art, a small exhibit showing some pottery (I didn't really go in here so I can't tell you much about it) and a really cool exhibit of 1930s art and posters from the 1930s labor period. All of it was cool, but considering the space issues, I wish the museum would focus on one or two exhibits that were a little larger and more in depth.

To be fair, it's a museum in El Dorado Kansas. So the art is usually western themed. So if you like…read morecowboys and Native American portrayed in art form, you will probably be tickled by this place. They do seemed to do a lot for the community, as well as hold special events. So go and support the community. It's not gonna take your breath away or bring a tear to your eye, but welcome to El Dorado.

An excellent art museum. Been there many times and love going back again…read more Fun gatherings and have purchased prints there. Well worth your time!

Get ready to do some serious walking…read more This zoo is super clean, even the restrooms were spotless. They clearly care so much about the animals and park itself. Highly recommend getting the extra ticket for the tram ride. They give you a wrist band and you can hop on and off. The gentleman who was our tour guide was so sweet and made the ride fun. He knows the names of all the animals. We don't have rhinos at our zoo, so I was thrilled to see two here. Stop by and say to Carlos the Camel!! Quite affordable and your ticket and other purchases help fund the zoo which is really important.

We enjoyed visiting the refuge. However, we were disappointed that the petting zoo portion was not…read moreopen that day.