The Kansas state flag features a coat of arms and state seal, with symbols representing the state’s history and identity. It was adopted in 1927 and has remained largely unchanged, with the state name added in 1963. The seal, created in 1861, includes 34 stars, a rising sun, a farmer, a steamboat, prairie schooners, and […]
The Kansas state seal reflects the state’s culture, history, and concerns. The current version was mandated in 1859 and includes symbols of agriculture, commerce, and migration. The seal was one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the Kansas state legislature and was included in the state flag in 1927. The state seal and […]
Researchers at Texas State University and Arizona State University compared the flatness of Kansas to a pancake and found that Kansas is actually flatter. Geographers at the University of Kansas later determined that Kansas is the seventh flattest state in the US, with Florida being the flattest. Cross-country skiers discovered a long time ago that […]
The eastern cottonwood, Kansas’ state tree, was important to pioneers traveling west for shade and shelter. It also helped establish home sites and is known for its fluffy seed pods. The eastern cottonwood, the state tree of Kansas, is inextricably linked to the history of the state and the settlement of the United States. The […]
Bleeding Kansas was a violent period in the Kansas Territory over the issue of slavery, lasting five years from 1854 to 1859. Pro-slavery forces, often from Missouri, clashed with anti-slavery forces, resulting in over 200 deaths. The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed residents to vote on slavery, violating the Missouri Compromise. Pro-slavery forces established a government, adopting […]
The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas and is found throughout the state. It has 11 different species and is on the state flag and quarter. The flower head follows the sun and is made up of 1,000 to 2,000 single flowers. Sunflower seeds are a good food source and were domesticated by Native […]
Kansas’ state motto, “Ad astra per aspera,” means “to the stars through hardship” and reflects the state’s hardworking spirit. It was created by John J. Ingalls, a Massachusetts antislavery activist, and appears on the state’s great seal alongside other symbols of Kansas’ history. The phrase has origins in Roman poetry and has been used as […]
“Home on the Range” is the state song of Kansas, written by Dr. Brewster Higley and Dan Kelley in 1870. It became a symbol of the American West and has been adapted for other states. The true composer was disputed, but Higley was eventually confirmed. The song is accompanied by other state symbols, including the […]
Kansas is known as “The Sunflower State” due to the common wild sunflower and its use as the official state flower. The flower has been important to the region’s residents for thousands of years, and its seeds are used for cooking, baking, and as an alternative to fossil fuels. Kansas has had other nicknames in […]
Kansas City, MO has a vibrant arts and culture scene, world-class museums, shopping, history, and good restaurants. It is known for its barbecue, architecture, boulevards, and fountains. The city offers theater, ballet, symphony, opera, and art museums. It has a rich history, including Union Station, Westport, and Liberty Memorial. The City Market and Country Club […]
