In Greensburg, the Big Well tells an unusual story of the town: Completed in 1888, the well is 109 feet deep and 32 feet in diameter. Its dimensions are impressive, but its changing role also shapes the place. It first served as a water supply and later became a tourist attraction. Together with historic buildings, art and places to visit in Kiowa County, it offers a varied perspective on the region.
From the well to the town’s history
Until 1932, the Big Well supplied water to Greensburg. It opened as a tourist attraction in 1939; at the time, visitors could descend to the bottom. This sequence gives the structure a dual significance: Its depth and diameter make its scale tangible, while its different uses tell the story of its transformation from a water-supply structure to a visitor attraction.
At the Fromme-Birney Round Barn near Mullinville, architectural form meets a history of use. It was built in 1912 to house 28 draft horses. The barn has 16 sides, stands 50 feet tall and is 70 feet in diameter. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance. Its location is precisely specified: 3.5 miles south and 1.75 miles west of Mullinville. Check local visiting arrangements before setting out.
Art, architecture and local history
The 5.4.7 Arts Center is in downtown Greensburg, next to the Big Well Museum and its adjoining park. It offers classes, exhibitions and performances. The building itself is also noteworthy: It was the first LEED Platinum building in Kansas and uses solar panels and a green roof as sustainable building features. Here, arts programming and architecture come together in one place.
The Kiowa County Historical Museum presents the county’s history through artifacts, exhibits and programs. Featured subjects include large photo cutouts of Donald “Cannonball” Green and Sheriff Mable Chase. A restored soda fountain serves ice cream and soft drinks; check before your trip to see if this offering is available. Another historic landmark stands on the eastern edge of Greensburg: A roadside pullout on US-54 is home to a historic marker for the Cannonball Stage Line Highway.
Roadside art is another regional discovery. The M.T. Liggett Art Environment encompasses a roadside property of more than 70 acres. Sculptures by M. T. Liggett line pasture fences along U.S. Highway 400 and Kansas Highway 54. In Greensburg, Green Tours also offers a self-guided tour on foot or by bicycle. This lets you explore art and local history at your own pace, without a set tour format.
The lake and places to visit around Greensburg
Kiowa State Fishing Lake is northwest of Greensburg. The lake covers 21 acres, while the surrounding area covers 43 acres. These figures describe different areas and help put the scale of the place into perspective. The lake has an ADA-compliant accessible boat ramp. In Haviland, the Heart of America Science Resource Center offers field trips. Its activities include stoneworking workshops, where participants can shape and polish a stone in less than an hour.
The Brenham meteorites near Haviland are a rare type of stony-iron meteorite. They formed the largest strewn field of their kind in the world. The Brenham meteorite fall also formed the Haviland Meteorite Crater. It is one of only three craters in the United States whose authenticity has been confirmed by the presence of meteorites. This geological history adds a very different perspective to the region’s architecture and art.
In Greensburg, the Twilight Theatre & Community Auditorium was designed as a multipurpose venue for live events. It also screens current movies. Check the current movie schedule before your visit. This lets you combine cultural attractions and places to visit while considering what each one offers, without assuming that every stop provides the same kind of experience.
Discover more destinations: Greensburg, Meade County, Kearny County, Scott County, Harper County, Lyon, Saline County, Mcpherson County.
For the main travel overview: Kansas.
