Discover Dighton

Dighton combines regional history with unusual glimpses of everyday life, recreational activities and distinctive dining. Those planning a trip can combine museum experiences, historic buildings, sports activities and special dining stops here. A vacation apartment or vacation home in Dighton provides a suitable base if you would like to tailor your stay to the interests of your travel group.

History at the Lane County Historical Society & Museum

The permanent exhibition at the Lane County Historical Society & Museum presents the early history of Lane County. A display of images and artifacts introduces the county’s five remaining towns. The exhibition also explains that Lane County produces grain, livestock and petroleum for the world. Among the objects on display is a horse-drawn top buggy from 1900. A typical country store with a post office illustrates approximately the year 1920.

The museum includes the Sod House, which was built in 1961 by local farmers as the first museum of the Lane County Historical Society. Inside is a depiction of the Lane County Bachelor. By pressing a button, visitors can hear a song about the Lane County Bachelor there. The Sod House is intended for visitors to enter and tour. The artifact collection of Arle and Josephine Boltz complements the tour with many items found in Lane County, Kansas and other states.

Historic Buildings and Distinctive Local Sights

Outside the museum, Dighton also showcases notable reminders of its past. The Lane County Courthouse was built in 1931 of yellow brick with limestone ornamentation in the Modern Eclecticism style. A large painting of a sod house, created by local artist Mary A. Bosley in 1961, hangs in the courtroom. Two limestone reliefs beside the main entrance represent the cultural heritage of the city of Dighton.

The Dighton Opera House was built in 1908. Its second floor housed an opera house and a box-seat hall. Dighton's Historic Gas Station is a well-preserved Farmers-Oil filling station with a workshop dating from 1937 and Mission-style design elements. Also notable in the town’s architectural history is the Lane County Community High School stadium, a natural limestone stadium built in 1937 as a WPA project.

Recreation for Different Interests

For active days, Dighton Recreation offers football, volleyball, basketball and track and field during the school year. Dighton City Park & Pool opens its swimming pool from Memorial Day weekend until mid-August. Swimming lessons are held there during the swimming season; the pool can also be rented for private parties or special events. Dighton Recreation, together with the Lane County Country Club, organizes a golf clinic for children and adults, with golf professionals from Buffalo Dunes participating. Another community offering is the Bicycle Rodeo organized by Dighton Recreation and the Lane County Sheriff's Department to teach bicycle safety.

Dighton Bowl & Diner combines bowling with eye-catching interior design: all kinds of memorabilia decorate the walls, and hot daily specials are served. Frigid Creme is a nostalgic roadside eatery with a classic service window. The menu ranges from ice cream cones to baskets of fried shrimp. In Kansas, Frigid Creme is one of only two locations with this name.

The Right Accommodation for Your Trip Planning

When choosing your accommodation, you can consider whether the focus of your trip should be on the Lane County Historical Society & Museum, the historic buildings, the seasonal recreational activities or the distinctive local establishments. This allows you to plan your stay in Dighton at your preferred pace, with cultural and historical discoveries, sporting activities or simple shared experiences. The Lane County 542 Event Center is available to the community for special events and celebrations and adds another event venue to the offerings.

For the overarching travel overview: Lane County.