Montgomery: History, Nature, and Special Excursions

Montgomery combines impressive stories with lakes, hiking trails, and unusual destinations. Those planning a trip can choose between historic sites, family-friendly discoveries, and active days in nature. A holiday apartment or holiday home is best selected according to the desired focus of the trip: culture enthusiasts will find many specific points of interest, while the areas around Big Hill Lake and in Elk City State Park center on trails and landscape experiences.

History, Museums, and Special Sites

A defining theme of the area is the history of the Dalton Gang. At Dalton Defenders Plaza and in Death Alley, visitors can follow the route the Dalton Gang took in 1892 during its attempt to rob two banks at the same time. Plaques mark the locations where Lucius Baldwin, George Cubine, Charles Brown, and Marshall Connelly were killed during the robbery. Death Alley also contains an old jail with replicas of the Dalton Gang as they were laid out after their deaths.

The Dalton Museum displays memorabilia from the robbery, including recently discovered court records from the trial of Emmett Dalton. It also features memorabilia of baseball player Walter Johnson, who lived in Coffeyville. The graves of three members of the Dalton Gang are located in Coffeyville’s Elmwood Cemetery. The Aviation Heritage Museum in Coffeyville offers a different historical perspective, with memorabilia from early aviation and the region’s pioneering pilots, including material from Coffeyville Air Base.

Buildings and local traditions also add their own distinctive touches. The entire third floor of Brown Mansion is a ballroom. The building is available year-round for private events, and guided tours are also offered. In Independence, the Little House on the Prairie Museum preserves the legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The site includes a replica of the Ingalls family cabin, an old post office, and a schoolhouse with a classroom. The 2026 visitor season runs daily from March through October 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The site can still be visited outside the season; access to the buildings and gift shop is then closed.

Nature Between Lake, Forest, and Ridge

For a more active stay, consider exploring the landscape around Big Hill Lake. The lake is located about five miles east of Cherryvale. There are public campgrounds, equestrian trailheads, and day-use areas, as well as opportunities for hiking, swimming, fishing, and horseback riding. A 17-mile equestrian trail runs along a scenic wooded ridge; tie-up areas and parking are available for riders.

In Elk City State Park, Table Mound rises as a steep limestone rock cliff. The Green Thumb Nature Trail is a one-mile loop trail that begins at the state park campground. The park is accessible via paved roads.

Excursions Suited to Your Own Travel Pace

Those who want to combine culture and nature can pair museum visits and historic sites with a day by the water or a trail through the landscape. Families can pursue different interests: a schoolhouse with a classroom, unusual stories about the Dalton Gang, a park on the Verdigris River, or a nature trail each offers a different focus. Riverside Park in Independence was established on the Verdigris River and designed by landscape architect George Kessler. Logan Park hosts the Cherry Blossom Festival and the Cherryvale Youth Fair.

Neewollah is also part of the region’s history: the event began in 1919 in Independence as an alternative to the usual Halloween pranks. Those interested in local traditions can include this origin in their travel plans, along with the museums and historic buildings. When searching for accommodation in Montgomery, it is therefore worthwhile to first determine the desired mix of daily activities and then choose a suitable holiday apartment or holiday home for the trip.

For further guidance, you can also explore Cherryvale, Independence, Caney, and Coffeyville. Other destinations to search include Kiowa County, Wichita County, Butler, and Meade County.

For the overarching travel overview: Kansas.