Goodland, Kansas – Art and history on the Plains
Standing like a lone sentry on the great prairie, Goodland greets visitors along their journeys on Interstate 70 in northwest Kansas. The small city of about 4,500 offers unique attractions, ranging from an early helicopter to a Van Gogh painting.
Possibly best known as the home of the world’s largest Van Gogh painting – “Three Sunflowers in a Vase” – stands tall on the outskirts of town. Sitting on an easel 80 feet tall, Canadian artist Cameron Cross created the attraction in 2001. A small park supports the painting. It’s common to see people view the attraction, which is only a few minutes’ drive off the interstate.
Museum honors local history
Nearby, the High Plains Museum houses the first patented helicopter in American history. While a patent application was submitted in 1910, the helicopter never successfully flew. There are conflicting stories that the equipment was too heavy for flight, as well as a gust of wind took out the vehicle. A replica of the helicopter is displayed at the museum, along with two long rods from the original.
The museum currently shares the story of local sports legend Brook Berringer. The former Goodland Cowboy quarterback starred at the University of Nebraska in the mid-1990s when the Cornhuskers won back-to-back national championships. Berringer was considered a lock to be picked in the 1996 National Football League draft. But, he and his close friend Tobey Lake died in a small plane crash, just days before the draft. The deaths traumatized both Goodland and Nebraska football fans. I remember pulling to the side of the street when I head the news while driving.
The special exhibit, which runs through Dec. 1, showcases Berringer’s Husker memorabilia, scrapbook material and photos. It’s a must-see exhibit for Husker and football fans, while also creating an emotional moment.
Gulick house
Dr. William Gulick planned to spend only a short time in Goodland when he arrived to fill in for another physician. He lived there for nearly 60 years. A local businessman bought and renovated the Gulick house, which included his office. The house offers a look at life during the first half of the 20th century. The house contains much of Dr. Gulick’s medical equipment. While not regularly open for visits, people can call the Crazy R restaurant and see if the owner can open the house.
The White Eagle gas station building was relocated to Goodland from Kanorado, a small town near the Colorado border. It was refurbished and looks like a gas station from the 1950s. Several artifacts and memorabilia are located inside the one-room filling station.
Public art
From a statue commemorating pioneers who took on physical and weather challenges to settle the region to paintings celebrating life on the prairie, Goodland embraces its public art scene. The postal office has a mural recognizing rural mail delivery, while the library is home to a mural highlighting the area’s farm history.
A few miles north of town, a farmer shares their vision of life on the prairie with a grasshopper made from a tractor, as well as other pieces.
Downtown Goodland is home to unique architecture, featuring art deco buildings among its century-old buildings. Murals line the walls of buildings, thus presenting an artist’s view of city history.
The Carnegie Arts Center is housed inside an old library. The center hosts special exhibits, as well as art classes. During our visit, the attraction displayed a number of gowns and jackets related to Cinderella. Exhibits rotate every few months. The arts council, which oversees the arts center, supports art projects around Goodland, including Art in the Park and crosswalk art.
Single-screen theater
The city’s support for art includes the movies. The Sherman Theatre has entertained residents for more than 80 years. A renovation found beautiful peacock paintings and a mural inside the auditorium. The single-screen theater changes movies weekly, bringing new releases to town on a regular basis.
During our visit to the city, we toured our first National Weather Service office. Meteorologists monitor the weather for several counties in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska. The office issues storm watches and warnings. The office has 13 staff members who work as meteorologists, in addition to about 10 more employees. We learned how the meteorologists monitor radars and other systems to develop forecasts. Outside, several pieces of equipment are used, including a Doppler radar.
Mt. Sunflower
During our visit, we took a drive southwest of town, to check out Mt. Sunflower, the highest point in Kansas. At 4,039 feet above sea level, the spot is celebrated with sculptures, a picnic table and a free library. Taking a look around, the view is interesting, as while you see farm fields, there is something beautiful about it. The site is located on private land. While the owners support visits, be sure you respect their land and treat it nicely.
Food scene
While attractions rate high for visits, everyone loves food when we travel, right? Well, Goodland is eager to shares its culinary diversity. From breakfast inside a Sonic (what??) to a medium rare steak, the city’s food scene is fun.
Located a short distance from our hotel at the Super 8, the Goodland Sonic was the first in Kansas to have a dining room. Owners took over a former restaurant’s building and built the dining room. Today, while the state has about 20 Sonics with dining rooms, the location is the second largest Sonic in the country, with room for about 80 diners. The menu is the same as other drive-in Sonics, the Goodland restaurant also includes the traditional drive-in spots, as well as a drive-thru option.
Good Grounds is an excellent choice for lunch. I tried a turkey croissant, while Lisa enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich. The coffee is excellent, as we stopped twice during our visit to enjoy a vanilla latte.
If you enjoy a good steak, then the Crazy R’s Bar and Grill may be the place for you. Teamed with a salad and a baked potato, my sirloin strip was perfectly cooked and was quite tasty.
L&T Family Restaurant offers a diverse menu from fried chicken to Mexican dishes. Lisa loved their fried chicken.
During our visit, we stayed at the Super 8. Located near Interstate 70, you’d be hardpressed to hear traffic. We stayed on the second floor. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of outlets for electronic devices. The Wi-Fi was excellent. While we didn’t partake, the hotel offers complimentary breakfast.
We enjoyed our visit to Goodland. It was fun, with a look at history and art. It may be a small town, but Goodland offers a great place to be able to take in Northwest Kansas. We recommend visiting the northwest city.
Disclaimer: Thank you to the Goodland visitors bureau for the complimentary admissions, meals and hotel. But, all views and opinions are ours.
