The Flint Hills are a unique tallgrass prairie stretching from Manhattan, Kansas to northern Oklahoma. Eroded flint is composed of limestone and shale from 250 million years ago and a shallow inland sea that covered most of Kansas and Oklahoma. The Flint Hills Scenic Byway, K-177, travels through this historic region visiting post Civil War towns such as Strong City, Cottonwood Falls, Elmdale and Cedar Point…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Flint has been exposed by consistent flooding in the spring…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
The limestone and shale contain plentiful fossils of prehistoric sea creatures.
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Because of its rocky soil, the early settlers were unable to plow the area for farming…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
…so it became prosperous cattle grazing land for Ranchers.
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
The “Santa Fe” rail community of Elmdale was settled in 1873 and incorporated in 1904. It is part of Chase County and has a current population of 55…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
So the story goes…the former owner of this general store was 100+ years old, blind and deaf, and residents patted her hand when purchasing an item…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
The “Santa Fe” Railroad passes through Elmdale every 30 minutes to an hour…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Rustic “Santa Fe” rail-car…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Original Bank Building…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Elmdale History display…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Elmdale City Hall.
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Elmdale warehouse…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
This is the Limestone Barn of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The preserve protects a tallgrass prairie ecosystem that use to cover 400,000 square miles of North America. The barn and property were originally part of Spring Hill Ranch, which began in 1878.
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
The Lower Fox Creek School, part of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, was constructed in 1882 by Stephen F. Jones the original owner of Spring Hill Ranch.
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Jones built the “Main house of Spring Hill Ranch,” completed in 1881 at an estimated cost of $25,000.
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Cattle pasture traveling North toward Council Grove, Kansas…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Abandoned mill at the intersection of K-177 and State Highway 50.
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Former truck repair shop in Strong City.
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Cattle pasture in between Elmdale and Cottonwood Falls…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
The Drinkwater & Schriver Mill in Cedar Point, Kansas. Cedar Point has a current population of 17…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
In 1875 The three-story stone mill was completed and used stone burrs to grind corn and wheat into flour. At this time, the mill had a capacity of 75 barrels per day and became a familiar place of business throughout central Kansas, and ”…the largest and finest in Chase County!”
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
A 1903 granary addition put extra weight on the south side of the building and created cracks throughout the structure. Also, flooding has eroded the building over the years, and filled the bottom level with 12 feet of mud…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
The two-by-four set atop the second story window marks the highest depth of the 1954 flood, which swelled Cedar Creek, as well as the Chase County Flood Plain. Since then, several dams have been constructed to manage flooding. It takes seven days for the run-off from Marion Reservoir, 27 miles away, to reach Cottonwood River at Cedar Point, and the Cedar Creek…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Dense foliage by Cottonwood River…
Film Photograph by Adam Chrysler
Map of Chase County and the Flint Hills… Courtesy of KDOT