I visited south central Kansas recently. If you asked me what I most remembered about my visit, I…read morewould say "ghosts" and "Ellinwood Underground Tunnels." If you're in Ellinwood or anywhere near this area, you need to take the tour. It's so interesting! There are tunnels under this small Kansas town, and the public (you) can experience them. The tour will lead you through a portion of the network of tunnels, and the tour guide will tell you all about the history. The tour starts at the Ellinwood Emporium, a charming little thrift/vintage store. You'll descend some stairs to the underground tunnels, where you'll learn about the activity that was happening in the tunnels in the late 1800s. The tunnels were a place to get a haircut and a shave, a place to bathe, a place to shop and relax. But also: Apparently, some stuff went down and now the tunnels also house spirits. There's one room that you'll see on the tour that the owner will not walk into, because there's a spirit in there that he doesn't want to mess with. Each room that you see on the tour is grim and creepy. The space in the Ellinwood Tunnels is heady, and is definitely housing some sort of bad energy, if you ask me. Head's up: This tour is not wheelchair- or stroller-friendly. You need to be able to climb down and up some steep stairs, and then navigate your way through tunnels, which have uneven ground.

It makes me sad that there aren't many reviews for these underground tunnels (outside of Yelp as…read morewell.) This was one of the most fascinating things we did while visiting this part of the country and I really wish that it was more of a destination. Listen, I understand. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere and the square footage is pretty low. However, Rick, the guide and owner (??) of the antique shop that sits above one portion of the tunnels is an incredible story teller and he has actual items that lived in and were used in the underground portion of this town. It's like a time capsule. I've been on other underground tours (like in Seattle) and even though they're more visited and more well known, they don't hold a candle to what Rick has. This isn't a kitschy, fake tour. This is about real and actual history, with real, appropriate artifacts and I loved it. The tour when you come back upstairs and head across the street to the hotel is a little bit different. The building, including the underground, was empty when they purchased it so all the items they have down there are found, bought or donated. But at least they are honest about it and don't make up fake stories for you. It's such a cool thing to do for such a minimal fee. I'd recommend this tour to anyone.

If you're a fan of the 1996 movie Twister, or you're fascinated by tornadoes and storm chasing, the…read moreTwister Movie Museum in Wakita is an interesting stop. I surprised my wife (cue the eye roll ) with a two-hour drive from Edmond to visit the filming location. The drive through rural Oklahoma was enjoyable and actually helped set the mood for thinking about the movie and why this area was chosen. The museum is housed in what was once the production office during filming, which is a neat piece of history in itself. Inside you'll find movie memorabilia, photos from the set, props, Dorothy, the yellow "Twister" barrels, a Twister pinball machine (which was donated by Bill Paxton), and plenty of behind-the-scenes items that fans will appreciate. The highlight of our visit was Linda, the museum host. Lori and I were the only visitors, so we had the opportunity to ask lots of questions. Linda was friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to share stories about the filming and the town's connection to the movie. She definitely made the visit more enjoyable. We spent about 30 minutes exploring everything. So, was it worth a two-hour drive? That depends. If you're a die-hard Twister fan, a storm-chasing enthusiast, or someone like me who enjoys checking unique Oklahoma destinations off a retirement bucket list, I'd say yes. If you're simply looking for a major museum experience, you may find it a little underwhelming. For me, it was a fun adventure, an enjoyable drive through Oklahoma, and another memorable stop on our travels. Rating: (3/5) - Worth visiting if it matches your interests, especially if you're already exploring north-central Oklahoma.

This museum is located in nearly nowhere Oklahoma but it is the exact street where the twister…read moreaftermath scene from the movie was filmed. They have a plethora of memorablia and props to view. The employee on site is very knowledgeable of the town and the filming process/locations used in the movie. Street parking is available.

The Big Well Museum puts Greensburg, KS on the map. Not only does it feature the obvious, it also…read morechronicles the town's near-obliteration by a tornado and remarkable recovery since (with massive federal help). I wish there were a way to find out how the eco-friendly rebuild is actually working out. Is the solar power reliable? Did the money spent on extra insulation eventually pay for itself? There's no way to know; it's presented as a panacea. If I could change just one thing about the exhibits, it would be to introduce a 3 letter word: "sic". "Sic" would would show that the exhibit's creators knew about and were accurately reproducing the errors in quoted newspaper articles. "The supply of water found to inexhaustible." [sic] "There are about 4,000 gallons of water to the inch in the well" [sic]. (The well's diameter of 32 feet gives 500 gallons per inch, not 4,000.) Without "sic", most of the errors just look like typos.

It was very clean. The gift shop was very full and had very interesting items. The bathrooms were…read morenice and clean. The staff was very kind and kept the conversation engaging. The museum was gorgeous and informative.

Second time there. First time was several years ago. I like the mixture of historic artifacts…read more The Greek and Roman sections were my favorites. I spent a lot of time reading the information posted. I spent over two hours there. There is a children's play area on the third floor if you want to bring your youngsters.

I am a sucker for old school encyclopedic museums, and this one is pretty iconic in this arena…read more It's eclectic, filled with oddities, and super fun for the whole family. Where else are you going to see dinosaurs, mummys, and a handwritten letter by Elizabeth I? I really enjoyed walking around, exploring, and I know my kiddo did as well. It's in an old building downtown and has loads of charm everywhere you look. 4/5 stars because I thought the kids play area was a bit of a letdown - it felt a bit dirty and neglected. There also isn't a cafe, which I think would be a fun addition if they ever plan on expanding or remodeling. The exhibits were wonderful though, and I thought for the price it was a great deal. Overall I'd for sure go back and if you're the kind of person that enjoys something off the beaten path, or has a love for old stories and a solid diorama, this is the place for you.

We spent 2.5 hours looking through this incredible museum. The history of Dodge City was…read morefascinating!

Not worth the price. The museum is neat and good history. The locals hyped up the shootout but it…read morewas pricy for what it was. To each their own.

05/2026 While driving through Hutchinson, Kansas, my wife…read moreand I stopped at Troy's BBQ for lunch. During our meal, the owner came by to check on us and asked what brought us to the area. We told him we were just passing through on our way home and asked if there was anything worth seeing nearby. He recommended the local space museum and Strataca, the underground salt mine. After finishing lunch, we decided to check out the salt mine since it was only a short drive away. When we arrived, the building looked more like a regular business office than a tourist attraction. Inside, there's a ticket counter where you purchase your tour tickets, along with displays and information about the mine. As luck would have it, we were the last two people admitted for the day's tours. After receiving our hard hats and a brief orientation, we headed to the elevator. It felt a little strange seeing an elevator in the middle of the building that takes visitors 650 feet underground. The ride down takes about a minute and a half in near darkness, adding to the anticipation. When the elevator doors opened, it felt like stepping into another world. Despite being hundreds of feet underground, it looked like a massive building with no windows. The size of the chambers carved entirely out of salt is incredible. The first part of the tour is self-guided and explains how the salt is mined, the machinery involved, and how dynamite is used to break apart the salt deposits for harvesting. After that, board a train that travels through parts of the mine, showing where mining operations began and explaining what life was like for the miners, including break and lunch area. Learn about the equipment used and more. Dark Ride tour, where a guide drives you through additional sections of the mine on a golf cart while sharing stories and information about its history and operation. The tunnels stretch for miles, and since mining still takes place today, it's fascinating to see how much of the mine remains active. They even host special events, dinner theaters, and private functions underground. This was one of the most unique attractions we've visited and far exceeded our expectations. An excellent tour from start to finish, and we would absolutely do it again.

We visited this attraction for the first time today and had a great time! It is a unique and…read moreinteresting museum, especially if you love geology and not afraid to explore 650 feet below ground. The dark ride portion of the tour was fun and the tour guides, Aaron and Logan did a fantastic job narrating and answering our questions. The museum hosts many cool events throughout the year and is approximately a 45-min drive from the Wichita area. There is an onsite gift shop, you are allowed to take a salt sample home as a souvenir and there is plenty of parking.

Located in the old Engdahl Radio & Television shop is an amazing museum of HISTORY which includes…read moreseveral racing motorcycles that Stan Engdahl used and basically hand built. Stan and his wife Livonia lived across the street and were well known fixtures in the town and area. Stan was a great racer that raced all different types of AMA racing including Short Track - Half mile - Mile dirt tracks and he also raced AMA Road Races. He had great success in all he entered. Stan would be proud of how this Museum has grown. The museum also has some of the Pressgrove brothers Kenny and Paul both were very accomplished Pro dirt track racers and had factory help from BSA. Other Kansas racer stuff is there from the Dusenberry family and others. The antique machinery is plentiful, clean, shiney, and well displayed. The volunteers curate with their knowledge and always take added remarks from fans as they are gracious and open minded to always accept more information about whatever they have on display. Motorcycles have not been around as long as Marquette has but this town is just about that age. Plenty of historical items in the Kansas Motorcycle Museum and its location off the beaten path is a welcome ride on a motorcycle or car, truck or suv. Visit once, and you will return. Big Ed Beckley World's Largest Motorcycle Jumper Hometown is Scott City west of Marquette on Highway 4 @Ed Beckley

This was a special surprise for me. I really enjoyed my visit. Everyone will enjoy this museum -…read moreespecially Motorcyle buffs

We had an excellent time on our trip to the Cosmosphere with our 7-year old daughter…read more The Dr. Goddard's Lab show is great for kids and adults. Lots of fun fire and experiments to keep the kids entertained and a lot of new information for the adults. We also watched the planetarium show. This was fun. There is a concession stand where we got some popcorn, drinks and candy. The flight simulator is definitely fun too. If you go, sitting in the front row is a must. It's worth waiting if you can get a front row seat. All-around good time! :)

An amazing collection of flown space artifacts! So glad that I visited…read more My only complaint is the lighting of some exhibits needs improvement.