Butterfly on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

The Beecher Bible and Rifle Church

Spring Hill Farm and Stock Ranch, on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Field Trip!

Well, The Man is out of town for four days, helping his daughter with a project, so after the morning chores, on impulse, Paul and I headed out to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, about 50 miles south of the house. It was interesting - I wouldn't make it the highlight of a vacation, but it was worth the drive through the Flint Hills. Paul was up for a walk, so we took one of the "back country" walks on a 3 mile loop. The preserve features the historic Stephen Jones house, built in 1881, and it doesn't take too much imagination to see people pulling up in front in horse and buggy and coming up the steps for some social engagement. The house cost $25,000 when it was built, but he also spend $15,000 on the barn - huge investments then.

On the way back, we stopped at the Beecher Bible and Rifle Church. Now, the name alone makes you want to see it. It was founded by people who wanted Kansas to be a free state, not a slave state, and a group came from New Haven, Conn., in 1856 with donated rifles and bibles. There's still an active church there, and in 1950, it was the first inter-racial Congregational Church in Kansas. Worth the stop in Wabaunsee.