Ellis County: Culture, Prairie, and History
Accommodation in Ellis County
Ellis County combines an impressive cultural history with open landscapes and unique visitor experiences. Between museums, historic buildings, prairie trails, and regional traditions, you will find a variety of reasons to take a trip. When choosing your vacation rental, it is therefore worth first deciding on your preferred focus: Should the trip primarily include historic sites and exhibitions, or are nature observation and walks the main priorities?
Discover Culture and History
One of the most notable historic buildings is the Basilica of St. Fidelis in Victoria. The Romanesque building was constructed in 1911 from local limestone. St. Fidelis Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1971, because of its architectural significance. The Cathedral of the Plains is also one of the recipients of the “8 Wonders of Kansas” award.
In Ellis, the Ellis Railroad Museum is dedicated to the history of the Union Pacific Railroad. It is also home to a more than 5,000-square-foot functioning model railroad layout. A special addition is the General Motors Aero Streamliner: Visitors can ride this miniature passenger train along a 0.75-mile route. Anyone interested in family history can also include the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home in their itinerary. The Chrysler family lived in the present-day house from 1889 to 1908; a building erected behind it in 1994 displays personal items belonging to Walter P. Chrysler.
The history of immigration comes to life at the Bukovina Society Headquarters Museum in Ellis. The museum is located in a historic church and preserves artifacts belonging to Bukovina emigrants, as well as a small library with books. Bukovinafest takes place in Ellis every three years. Another tradition is the annual Volga German Oktoberfest in Ellis County, where German food is served.
Prairie, Trails, and Unusual Insights
For a quieter activity, consider the Dr. Howard Reynolds Nature Trails. The gravel paths run for 2.0 miles through upland prairie and along a riparian corridor. Along the way, you can observe wildlife in the pond and stream, as well as birds and butterflies. North of the city of Ellis, the prairie leads to the Arien Hills. This landscape perspective complements museum visits with time spent outdoors.
The Hays Bison Pens also offer a special wildlife-viewing opportunity: A pull-off area for stopping provides a view of the bison herd. Walter P. Chrysler Park in Ellis offers access to fishing at Big Creek. Ellis Lakeside Campground has a boat ramp and a fishing pier. Those who prefer historic walks can choose the Hays-City Walking Tour. It covers figures such as Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, and General George Armstrong Custer, who passed through Old Hays City from the 1860s through the 1880s.
Among the unusual exhibition offerings is the rattlesnake exhibit at Sternberg Museum, featuring live rattlesnakes. Hays Arts Center Gallery presents numerous new exhibitions throughout the year. Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art regularly presents exhibitions by students and faculty, as well as traveling exhibitions.
Planning Your Visit and Finding the Right Orientation
For your journey, Hays Regional Airport offers daily flights to Denver, with connections to United Airlines’ larger route network. When planning cultural sightseeing, you should take the opening hours of Fort Hays State Historic Site into account: It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; it is closed on state holidays. Fort Hays offers tours of four preserved original buildings: the blockhouse, the guardhouse, and the two officers’ quarters.
The Ellis County Historical Society Museum and its outbuildings offer further insights into the local past. The main gallery is open; tours of the Harness Shop, the Volga German Haus, and the Firehouse Museum can be arranged by telephone. The Volga German Haus is a reconstruction reflecting the size and construction style of a house built by early Volga German settlers, and it is furnished with authentic household items used by Volga German settlers.
Cemeteries are also part of the region’s cultural history: Various cemeteries in Ellis County contain between 13 and more than 100 iron grave crosses. The ornate crosses were forged from steel and iron by local Volga German blacksmiths. Another prominent landmark is the church known as “The Cross in the Valley,” with a 165-foot-high main tower topped by a golden cross.
Places for Further Trip Planning
To define your personal focus, you can also consult the local pages for Hays and Ellis. This allows you to combine your search for a vacation rental with the exhibitions, landscape experiences, and historical topics that are of particular interest to you during your stay.
For the higher-level travel overview: Kansas.
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