Founded in 1867, Hays, Kansas is the county seat of Ellis County. With a population of 21,136, it’s not small, definitely not large, more of a “Goldilocks” size, in our opinion. Big enough to have a variety of shopping and dining options, and small enough to get around without crazy traffic. That makes it an enjoyable place to spend time.
We started out at the Convention & Visitors Bureau (2700 Vine Street). We met Janet Kuhn, Convention Sales Manager, at the Southern Travelers Explore Conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama. David had spent a lot of time talking with her about all the things to do and see in Hays (see more at Visit Hays) so we were excited to start exploring.
Having talked with David and learning that history is our main interest, Janet gave us a pamphlet on the “Walking Tour of Historical Hays City” created by the Ellis County Historical Society. It guides you to various historical sites around the old downtown. So, we set out to check it out.
What started as just a guide for us turned into a type of “scavenger hunt.” After finding each item we would check it off on our pamphlet. As we found more and more, we became determined to find every single one. The map shown on the pamphlet was very helpful. There was one that was only the frame for the plaque, the plaque itself was missing. Which one? You’ll have to take the tour and find out!
The pamphlet provides you some information about each stop, and then the plaque located there tells you much more. It was fascinating to read about the real Wild West drama that seemed to take place on quite a regular basis.
There is one place on the pamphlet – Boot Hill – that is not located downtown but it does tell you where to find it, and you’ll need to drive to it. But that’s OK, you’ll want to do that and mark it off your list! While there are several places called Boot Hill around the country, the one in Dodge City seems more well-known. However, Hays says that their Boot Hill was well-established for many years before the one in Dodge City. It is said to be the “oldest west of the Mississippi.”
As you’re walking around the old downtown area, pay attention to other things as well. Notice the beautiful old limestone buildings with their intricate architecture, quirky alleyway finds, and simple leftovers from a bygone era such as a limestone hitching post. Just take your time and look all around for hidden, unnoticed, or forgotten little things.
One more interesting tidbit – there is an outlined area of the old downtown where you are permitted to walk around with your alcoholic beverage. Apparently, this is a typical thing in Kansas, we just had never seen anything like it before, except for Las Vegas. But don’t worry, it is nothing like Vegas. If any people walking around with drinks we did not notice them at all.
The walking tour was fun, it was great exercise and a great way to learn the history of the town. It also gave us the opportunity to see and visit the new businesses now in place of those long-gone establishments. We also had an appreciation that things have calmed down so much over the last 100+ years. It may have been an exciting place back then, but your chances of surviving your visit might have been a bit less likely.
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