Join us on an adventure to Abilene, KS, one of the Smithsonian Top 20 best small towns to visit and True West Magazine's #1 True Western Town of the year. Begin the day with an epic 2-hour train ride on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Excursion Train pulled by a vintage diesel electric locomotive. Halfway, we will stop at Enterprise, KS, to see the working Hoffman Grist Mill. You will also be provided a delicious picnic lunch to enjoy on our return trip to Abilene. Our next stop is one of Abilene's most iconic and newly renovated attractions, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. Whether you're a WWII and history enthusiast, a fan of Ike or simply exploring Kansas, the Dwight D. Eisenhower campus will leave you in awe. The Seelye Mansion and Patent Medicine Museum  is our next stop. Named an "8 Wonders of Kansas - Architecture", the Seelye Mansion is like a time capsule. The home features the original Edison light fixtures and Tiffany-style mantel. The home was featured on the History Channel's Mysteries at the Mansion. Visitors even get to bowl on the 1904 Box Ball alley, which was purchased at the World's Fair. We will end our day with dinner at Legacy Kansas Munson's Prime and Brookville Hotel before heading back to Wichita.

Facilitator: Beccy Tanner, Adjunct Instructor, Department of History, Wichita State University

We start our day at Powell Gardens, aka, the Kansas City Botanical Gardens. Established in 1988, Powell Gardens has more than 175 acres of lush, rolling hills and windswept meadows and is home to a large collection of plants located in eight themed display gardens. Summer will be in full bloom, and you will experience a variety of bold summer color along the winding brick paths. Our next stop is the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America's leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. Lunch will be on your own at Over There Cafe. Guests dine surrounded by World War I-themed décor featuring the flags of the Allied and Central Powers and a poppy field mural. Our final stop will be the Arabia Steamboat Museum located in the historic City-Market district of Kansas City. When the mighty Steamboat Arabia sank near Kansas City on September 5, 1856, she carried 200 tons of mystery cargo. Lost for 132 years, its recovery in 1988 revealed a treasure trove of well-preserved artifacts that will captivate and amaze you. To finish off our day in true Kansas City fashion, we will have dinner at Jack Stack BBQ. Today, Jack Stack Barbecue is in its 4th generation of Fiorella family ownership and has evolved into the largest wood-fired cookery in the US.

Facilitator: Beccy Tanner, Adjunct Instructor, Department of History, Wichita State University 

Northeastern Oklahoma is our destination! We begin our day in Catoosa, OK, with a stop at the big blue whale, located on the iconic Route 66. Built in the early 1970s, the Blue Whale and its pond became a favored swimming hole for both locals and travelers alike. It's then on to Claremore for a guided tour of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Will Rogers, Oklahoma's favorite son, called Claremore home. The museum hosts 12 galleries of artifacts and memorabilia, depicting his life as a Trick Roper, Vaudeville & Ziegfeld Follies performer, movie star, radio commentator, Syndicated Newspaper Columnist, Humorist and proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Lunch is on your own at Main St. Tavern, a local favorite. After lunch, we will stop at the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum, which is home to over 12,000 firearms and thousands of non-firearm artifacts. We will also visit the Claremore Museum of History, which showcases Claremore's unique history, from radium baths to playwright, Lynn Riggs. Enjoy artifacts from the musical Oklahoma! including the original "surrey with the fringe on top".  It's then back to Route 66 with a stop in Foyil, OK, to see Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park, a monument to the American Indian. Before heading home, we will end the day with dinner at The Hammett House, a local Claremore favorite.

The charming Swedish Community of Lindsborg, KS awaits! Your day will be filled with artistry, history and folklore as we attend the community's annual Millfest, celebrating the history of the 1898 Smoky Valley Roller Mill and the pioneer heritage of the region. We will tour the mill and retrace the steps of a bygone era as artisans and musicians showcase their talent and skills. After we will enjoy a one-of-a-kind Swedish buffet at the Coronado Heights Castle, we will visit the Birger Sandzen Memorial Art Gallery at Bethany College. Born and raised in Sweden, Sandzen is referred to as the Van Gough of the Prairie. No tour would be complete with a visit to the Hemslojd (Dala Horse Factory). We will learn about the process of making dala horses and the story behind them. We will also visit the Small World Gallery and the works of world-traveled National Geographic Photographer Jim Richardson. We will finish the day with dinner at a local favorite the Crown and Rye. The restaurant has a long running history in Lindsborg, originally opening as the Swedish Crown more than 50 years ago.

Facilitator: Beccy Tanner, Adjunct Instructor, Department of History, Wichita State University 

Join us for a day of tastings and tours. Our first stop is the award-winning Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery, a family-owned artisanal winery located near Paola, KS. Sommerset has over 9,000 grapevines and produces over 5,000 cases of hand-crafted premium wines annually. After our private tour of the winery and vineyard, we will partake in a Comprehensive Tasting 

(more than a regular tasting). Lunch will be provided along with live music for your enjoyment. No trip to the Paola area is complete without a tour and tasting at the Louisburg Cider Mill and Country Store. Started as a roadside stand nearly 50 years ago, it has grown into a thriving brand and institution. Two of its most recognized products, Louisburg pure old-fashioned apple cider and Lost Trail Soda, can be found at major retailers and small local markets. The Cider Mill has also become a regional destination that offers customers a unique opportunity not only to taste great apple cider and apple cider donuts, but to see where and how those products are made. We will finish the day in Whitewater, KS, at the Grace Hill Winery, a local Wichita favorite. We will have a private tasting of 7 of the Grace Hill "greatest hits" in their beautiful event center. After our tasting, we will tour the vineyard, winery, and cellar to see the journey from vine to wine. Snacks are available for a small fee. You must be at least 21 years of age to enroll. 

Facilitator: Beccy Tanner, Adjunct Instructor, Department of History, Wichita State University