The 8 wonders of Kansas

More than 24,000 people from all 50 states cast votes to determine Kansas’ most important natural or manmade wonders. The winners were selected from 24 finalists; eight attractions were chosen because the Kansas Sampler Foundation, organizer of the project, bases its criteria on eight rural culture elements.

“It’s very exciting to announce what the public chose as our very best in terms of places totally unique to Kansas or sites that are iconic,” said Marci Penner, director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. “We’d love it if the fun of the contest would launch a wave of exploring Kansas!”

The 8 Wonders of Kansas is a project of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to preserve and sustain rural culture and believes that educating the public about what there is to see and do in the state helps make a difference for all Kansas communities, regardless of size.

Following is the list of winners along with a little about what makes each Wonder unique:

BIG WELL: The construction of the 1887 well was an engineering marvel in its day and it is the world’s largest hand-dug well. Bigwell.org

CHEYENNE BOTTOMS and QUIVIRA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE: These two entities make up the Kansas Wetlands Complex. They share a vital and international importance as a migratory stop for North American shorebirds. Ksbyways.org/wetlands/index.html

EISENHOWER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM: Dwight D. Eisenhower was the only president who also had been a five-star general thus making this display of his remarkable lifetime achievements significant. Eisenhower.archives.gov

KANSAS COSMOSPHERE & SPACE CENTER: The Cosmosphere has one of the most significant collections of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world. Cosmo.org

KANSAS UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM: The only underground salt museum in a working mine in the western hemisphere showcases our natural treasure, salt, 650 feet below the earth’s surface. Undergroundmuseum.org

MONUMENT ROCKS and CASTLE ROCK: These ancient chalk beds have produced scientifically significant fossils and have been highly eroded into unusual spires and shapes, making them spectacular landmarks on the plains of western Kansas. Discoveroakley.com

ST. FIDELIS CHURCH: The architectural grandeur and impressive craftsmanship make this church built by the Volga German pioneers in 1911, a masterpiece. Stfidelischurch.com

TALLGRASS PRAIRIE NATIONAL PRESERVE: The preserve represents the last significant example of the tallgrass prairie in North America. Nps.gov/tapr

More information can also be found at 8wonders.org.