Central Kansas Trip; Day 2
We started the day snooping around Wilson. I took photos of the burned out opera house, the humongous Czech egg and a building that used to be the Wilson bank. The former bank now houses attorneys and was the setting for a scene or two in the old movie, Paper Moon.
Also a scene in the movie, Paper Moon, was an old building and grain elevators along the railroad tracks located at 27th Street and Avenue E. (Source of the photo.)
From Wilson we drove south to Claflin, where we toured around briefly. Then we were off to Pawnee Rock State Hitoric Site (Pawnee Rock). It is a rock protuberance south of the city of Pawnee Rock. It is historic because it was about half way along the Santa Fe Trail (Independence, MO to Santa Fe, NM). It was used by settlers and native Americans alike. There was an observation deck on top of current Pawnee Rock. At one time Pawnee Rock was as high as the top of the observation deck. Settlers in the area mined rock whittling it down to it's current height.
From Pawnee Rock we drove south and west to Fort Larned National Historic Site. It was steps off the Santa Fe Trail and was described as the "guardian of the Santa Fe Trail". What I found especially interesting was that the fort existed for just two decades.
The flag was at half mast due to the death of John McCain.
I learned online that the Lone Wolf Restaurant in Ellinwood might be a good place to eat. According to the website they were open Tuesday through Saturday. A sign on the door, however, said their hours had changed so they were open from Wednesday through Saturday. It was already late for lunch but we drove back north to Wilson and enjoyed some excellent pizza at Grandma's Soda Shop and Restaurant.
It was 93 or 94 when we stopped for a break at the hotel at about 3:00. At about 6:30 when we went back out to drive up to Wilson Lake it was 75 degrees. Very nice . . . . . and great top-down Mustang driving.
Today we drove about 120 miles. To see all the photos taken today click on the following link: Day 2
Also a scene in the movie, Paper Moon, was an old building and grain elevators along the railroad tracks located at 27th Street and Avenue E. (Source of the photo.)
Today it looks like this:
We also saw an interesting structure that at one time served as the city jail and water tower!
From Pawnee Rock we drove south and west to Fort Larned National Historic Site. It was steps off the Santa Fe Trail and was described as the "guardian of the Santa Fe Trail". What I found especially interesting was that the fort existed for just two decades.
I learned online that the Lone Wolf Restaurant in Ellinwood might be a good place to eat. According to the website they were open Tuesday through Saturday. A sign on the door, however, said their hours had changed so they were open from Wednesday through Saturday. It was already late for lunch but we drove back north to Wilson and enjoyed some excellent pizza at Grandma's Soda Shop and Restaurant.
It was 93 or 94 when we stopped for a break at the hotel at about 3:00. At about 6:30 when we went back out to drive up to Wilson Lake it was 75 degrees. Very nice . . . . . and great top-down Mustang driving.
Today we drove about 120 miles. To see all the photos taken today click on the following link: Day 2
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