When most people think of Kansas, they think about the 1905 discovery of helium or the first Pizza Hut in Wichita—just kidding! What really comes to mind is probably Dorothy's famous line, "I think we're not in Kansas anymore" as she arrives in Oz, or those iconic black-and-white scenes of her farmhouse amid endless wheat fields. Not a fan of classic musicals? Then maybe you think of the TV series Supernatural and how often Kansan lore is referenced throughout its 15 seasons. From being home to America's first paved interstate highway to producing enough wheat to feed the world for two weeks, Kansas has quietly shaped history while maintaining its humble, down-to-earth reputation. Join us as we explore some of Kansas's most fascinating aspects, where urban legends meet historical facts and innovation sprouts from unexpected places.
The Interstate System was officially born in 1956 and Kansas claims to be home to the very first paved section out of the whole nation! That’s right, US 40 (now called I-70) was the first project in the United States that was completed under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. This area passes through Kansas City, Topeka, and Junction City and is now known as the Kansas Turnpike—the only toll road in Kansas and one of two sections on I-70 that are tolled. As soon as the act was signed, Kansas started paving what would eventually be the first part of a 424-mile interstate that runs from Colorado border near Kanorado, all the way to the Missouri border in Kansas City. Two other states also claim the first interstate (Missouri and Pennsylvania) but you can read more about that here. Even so, this interstate been around since the beginning and you’ll likely find yourself on it if you’re traveling through the state. If so, you might as well check out other historical wonders like the Oz Museum, which is located right off of I-70 when you exit onto the Road to Oz Highway.
Sometimes known as Kansas Highway 99, Road to Oz Highway will lead you right to the doors of the Oz Museum—a historical memorabilia and film-lovers dream. Dorothy’s love for her home state captured by the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, is memorialized here in this impressive tribute built with a major grant from the State of Kansas and countless hours of local community volunteers. Starting with the very first edition of L. Frank Baum’s beloved story, to unique film-featured items, Oz fans will swoon over the flying monkey miniatures used in the film and original MGM production notes. The most impressive might be the hand-jeweled ruby slippers created by artist Jeffrey Merrell, made using 3,500 Swarovski crystals to commemorate the film’s 50th anniversary. Film buffs will appreciate items from the stars’ earlier silent films, as well as items from other media that also feature the land of Oz, such as Broadway’s Wicked, The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, and Diana Ross’s The Wiz. Stop by for over 2,000 artifacts that span over a century!
Whether you’re traveling through or seeing the sights, you'll likely spot endless fields of golden wheat stretching as far as the eye can see along Kansas highways, particularly along I-70. Nicknamed the “Wheat State,” Kansas planted their first wheat crop in 1839 but it wasn’t until Russian Mennonite immigrants introduced the hardy winter variety, Turkey Red wheat, in 1874 that Kansas began earning its notoriety. In spite of Kansas’ harsh winters, the new wheat type combined with T. C. Henry’s advocacy for its cultivation, Kansas became known as the “breadbasket of the world.” Kansas is now one of the largest wheat producers of the US, with wheat fields covering 88% of the state’s total land. In fact, all the wheat grown in Kansas in a single year could fill a train stretching from western Kansas to the Atlantic Ocean and produce enough wheat to bake 36 billion loaves of bread annually! One notable landmark along this route is the impressive grain elevator in Hutchinson, which stretches for half a mile and can hold 46 million bushels of grain. This agricultural legacy is so significant to the state's identity that it even earned Kansas an award for the most beautiful license plate in 1981 with its wheat-themed design.
Kansas's love for folklore runs so deep that not only did they build an entire museum dedicated to The Wizard of Oz, but they've also managed to conjure up what many believe to be the Gates of Hell itself in Stull. In November 1974, an article in the University Daily Kansan came out saying the devil himself visits Stull, Kansas twice a year and included student interviews recounting bizarre occurrences, from impossible visions to ghostly grabs. Most of the stories center around Stull Cemetery, at the foot of an abandoned church. Rumors include an unending staircase that leads straight to hell located in the basement of the church and a woman in a white dress luring motorists to their death along the highway. If that last one sounds familiar, you might have been a Supernatural fan.
While the rumors surrounding Stull are purely made up, the lore created by college kids in 1974 has since taken off so much that it’s been mentioned several times in pop culture. The 2005 television series, Supernatural, used the “woman in white dress” lore for their pilot episode. Urge Overkill’s 1992 album release, Stull, features the church from the cemetery on its cover and there are even films that base their plots on the Stull lore. Whether or not the fame came about from a Halloween-themed college prank, the Gates of Hell legend shows that Kansas has a talent for capturing the public’s imagination. Check it out for yourself: this “ghostly” town can be found south of Big Springs, off of I-70.
If you’re traveling through the Sunflower State on America’s first interstate highway, Kansas offers a unique blend of history, folklore and agricultural pride. From Dorothy’s iconic journey showcased in the Oz Museum, to the endless fields of wheat, or even the spooky legends of Stull Cemetery, this state is full of imagination and surprises. These diverse attractions – from the celebratory to the supernatural, from the historical to the agricultural – paint a picture of a state that knows how to preserve its heritage while embracing the stories that make it unique. So next time you're cruising down I-70, just remember that Interstate Signways made the signs that marked the way.