Discover Kansas History

Start off the day at "The Breadbasket" with their famous breakfast buffet.

Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: $8.00 approx.

Take a step back in time in Kechi "The Official Antique Capital of Kansas" for a visit to Kechi Alley and Kechi Boardwalk and shop their many antique stores. Tour time: 2 hrs.

Our next stop is the KARG Art Glass & Gallery and view their selection of hand blown glass and free glass blowing demonstration. Tour time: 45 min.

Lunch Break… the Cracker Barrel in Park City. They have a wide variety of lunch options from their "daily specials" to soups, sandwiches and salads. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: varies.

On down the road in Sedgwick we will visit the Santa Fe Depot, view this original ticket office, where records date back to 1887. We'll also stop by the Sedgwick Historical Society Museum. Tour time: 45 min. Cost: Free.

In the middle of afternoon we will visit Halstead's famous Kansas Learning Center for Health, the first rural health museum. Wrapping up our visit in Halstead will take us to the Historical Museum and Depot. Tour time: 2 hrs. Cost: $2.

Back to Newton where we will spend the evening (seasonal) at the Sommerfeld farm, home of Country Boys & Prairie Adventures. There you will experience pioneer life with a campfire meal of pioneer stew, biscuits, coleslaw and scrumptious cobbler. Tour time: 2 hrs. Cost: $26.50 or you may spend the evening at the Newton Factory Outlet Mall where you can shop or catch a movie. Tour time: 2 hrs. Cost: varies.

Back to the motel for a good night's sleep.

Day Two

Head north to the Mennonite Heritage Museum Complex in Goessel and experience how the Mennonite Immigrants lived when they first settled in the area. Tour time: 1 hr.

Cost: $3.

Further north will bring us to McPherson for a visit to the McPherson Museum, an elegant 1920's mansion containing antique furnishings. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: Free.

Our final stop in McPherson will be a visit to the Model Railroad Layouts, a slice in America's history preserved in miniature N and HO scales. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: Free.

We'll have lunch at McPherson's Main Street Deli famous for their home-made soups, deli sandwiches and desserts. Tour Time: 1 hr. Cost: varies.

We'll head east to Marion for a stop at the Marion Historical Museum, which includes historical artifacts and Indian relics. Tour time: 45 min. While in Marion we will visit the Copper Shed, a copper metal sculpture with Kansas themes. Tour time: 45 min.

The final stop of the day will be in Peabody for a visit to the Morgan House, restored home of W. H. Morgan. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: $3. While in Peabody we will also visit the Peabody Historical Museum, home to area history memorabilia.

Supper will be in Newton. Back to the motel and rest up for our final day. Tour time 1 hr. Cost: varies.

Day Three

Today's tour will keep us in Newton as we start off the day at the Harvey County Historical Museum, an original Carnegie Library housing local and railroad history. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: $2.

Next we will visit the Warkentin House, a 16-room Victorian Home of Bernhard Warkentin. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: $3.

We'll finish the morning with an historical driving tour of Newton, viewing historic buildings and landmarks.

Lunch will be at the Breadbasket, home the best tasting soups, sandwiches and scrumptious pie! Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: $6-8 approx.

After lunch we will take Main St. up to the Kauffman Museum, a first class museum depicting the cultural and natural history of the Central Plains and the immigration of Mennonites in 1870's. Tour time: 1 ½ hr. Cost: $4.

The last visit on our "Kansas History Tour" will be at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery and Park. This building was originally a factory where they produced buggy carriages. This museum showcases local and guest artist exhibits. Enjoy some light refreshments before you head for home! Tour time: 45 min. Cost: $1.

One final note – be sure and make some time to explore Newton which has several unique specialty stores in the downtown business district and outlying areas, or check out the Chisholm Trail stores where you can shop or catch a movie.

Expierence Our Mennonite History

Day One

Welcome reception hosted by the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau: includes light refreshments, a look around our historic office building, short video about Newton's Mennonite heritage and an opportunity to stretch your legs.

Let's begin our experience at the Kauffman Museum in North Newton, this first class museum chronicles the coming of the Mennonites to this area. It also has a tallgrass prairie reconstruction, historic Kansas farmstead and special short-term exhibits. Tour time: 1 ½ hr. Cost: $4.

Let's head to Hillsboro for lunch at the Olde Towne Restaurant, housed in a building constructed in 1880. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: varies.

After lunch we will visit the Mennonite Settlement Museum and see the Peter Paul Loewen House, built in 1876 this Russian Mennonite home depicts pioneer life in Kansas. Also on the grounds is the Friesen Dutch Mill and Kreutziger Country School. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost $3.

We will continue our experience in Goessel at the Mennonite Heritage Museum Complex that depicts the story of Mennonite Immigrants and their contribution to agriculture in Kansas. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost $3.

You have several evening experiences awaiting you in Newton: Dinner at the "Warkentin House," the German buffet at the Breadbasket (Fri. & Sat. only) or if weather permits you may want to experience a pioneer dinner with entertainment at the Sommerfeld farm (seasonal), home of Country Boys and Prairie Adventures. Another option is shopping and a movie at the Chisholm Trail Stores. Tour time: 2 hrs. Cost: varies.

Day Two

After breakfast we will visit the Warkentin House, the Newton home of Bernhard Warkentin built in 1886-87, is a splendid example of the Victorian period in American architecture. Many of the original furnishings remain. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: $3.

Now is a good time to take the Newton historical "driving tour" where we can visit the recently restored "Mennonite Settler Statue" and many other historical landmarks. Tour time: 30 min - 1 hr. Cost: $1.

We will end our morning at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery in downtown Newton, at one time this was actually where they made buggy carriages. At the gallery you can view and purchase original paintings, glassware, pottery and other artworks by Kansas artists. Tour time: 45 min. Cost: Donation.

A good place for lunch in Newton is the "Breadbasket" located on Main St. This Mennonite tradition features homemade soups, breads, pies, sandwiches and their infamous "bierocks." Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: Varies.

If time allows we encourage you to visit the Dyck Arboretum and Visitors Center in Hesston, a nature facility with Kansas plants, bird-watch area, gift shop and Kansas Art Gallery.

One final note - If shopping is more your bag, then we invite you to shop "downtown" Newton which has several unique specialty stores, or visit the Chisholm Trail Stores for shopping and a movie.

Explore Prairie Where the Trails Turn to Rails

At a convenient time of the day a you are invited to a reception hosted by the Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau: it includes light refreshments, a look around our historic office building, short video about Newton's Mennonite heritage and an opportunity to stretch your legs.

Our next stop is the Kauffman Museum in North Newton, this first class museum chronicles the coming of the Mennonites to this area. It also has a tallgrass prairie reconstruction, historic Kansas farmstead and special short-term exhibits. Tour time: 1 1/2 hr. Cost: $4.

A trip to Newton is not complete without visiting the Harvey County Historical Museum, an original Carnegie Library housing local and railroad history. Tour time: 1 hr. Cost: $2.

Before lunch is a good time to take the Newton historical "driving tour" where we can visit the recently restored "Mennonite Settler Statue" and many other historical landmarks. Tour time: 30 min - 1 hr. Cost: $1.

Off to visit the Warkentin House, the Newton home of Bernhard Warkentin built in 1886-87, is a splendid example of the Victorian period in American architecture. Many of the original furnishings remain. Tour time: 1 hr.

Cost: $3

One of my favorite Newton attractions is the Carriage Factory Art Gallery in downtown Newton, at one time this was actually where they made buggy carriages. At the gallery you can view and purchase original paintings, glassware, pottery and other artworks by Kansas artists. Tour time: 45 min. Cost: $1.

After discovering Newton’s Mennonite heritage we encourage you to check out our great shopping! Newton is home to the Chisholm Trail Stores and several specialty retail stores located in downtown and the outlying areas.