August 30, 2019:
It is a miserable dark and rainy start to the day as I leave Kansas City. The GPS has mislead me onto an alternate route to avoid a toll. I’m in moderate traffic, in the dark at about 6:30 AM and I can barely see the lines delineating the traffic lanes. I exit after a few miles and pull into a convenance store to have coffee, some breakfast and wait for daylight. I eventually connect with I-70 west which I will follow across Kansas.
I made a few stops in the very picturesque towns of Paxico, Alma and Salina, Kansas along the route.
I am undecided if I want to overnight in Ellis, Kansas or Hays, Kansas. I first want to stop in Ellis to visit the boyhood home and museum of Walter P Chrysler and to look at the town sights since it is an old railroad town. The woman at the museum is a very friendly local who guides you through the house. The house was saved by a local car dealer, then bought by the Chrysler corporation and semi restored with lots of town and public support, donations and volunteers. It was then turned over to the city of Ellis and it appears to me that funding is strained. The town of Ellis is more of a working class railroad town, little in the way of tourist amenities and there is no big money.
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| The Panico, Kansas grain elevator looks neglected |
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| Three towns and three stories are told here |
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| The Paxico general store has much of interest, especially many restored old stoves and an upcoming blues festival |
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| Antiques too ! |
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| One of the more interesting houses in Alma, Kansas |
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| Classic old gas station in Alma |
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| Downtown Alma, Kansas view |
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| The United Building in Salina, Kansas |
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| The old Salina train station |
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| Rooster's Tavern |
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| An impressive immigrant story in Salina |
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| Liked this mural in contrast to the blackened brick wall |
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| I wanted to try one or a sack of them but the line was long. They have been in business for 93 years ! |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis,_Kansas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Chrysler
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| The boyhood home of Walter P. Chrysler |
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| The dinning table |
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| He was a good baseball player |
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| Also good with the tools |
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| I could use that 38 Dodge hubcap in this display case |
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| Walter did OK in business too ! |
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| A 1927 Chrysler ? |
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| He built one of coolest buildings in the US too ! |
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| His desk |
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| Chrysler started his career as an Engine wiper |
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| Downtown Ellis, Kansas view |
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| The credit Union is important in Ellis |
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| Knights of Columbus building |
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| Ellis welcome station and old train station |
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| Ellis remains a railroad town, but in the days of steam was a huge maintenance shop. Unfortunately the museum was closed |
I then go about 12 miles west to Hays, Kansas with its more historic, western gunslinger history and University funding where things are looking more prosperous.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hays,_Kansas
I have dinner at the Gella's Diner and brew pub. Hays has a beautiful, modern library which tells you a lot about the prosperity and maybe the intelligence of a town. Also a miracle mile area with lots of lodging and restaurant chains and travel related services. I stay at the Walmart there, I hate them for killing private downtown business, but they are just too easy, too convenient, too efficient and the prices are tough to beat.
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| Nice mural in Hays |
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| A downtown corner |
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| Award winning Hays Library |
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| Buffalo Bill Cody was a player in this area along with many other characters |
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| The Fox Theater |
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| Nice brick paved streets |
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| The Brass Rail Bar |
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| There was a car show going on, this was my favorite car |
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| This was OK too |
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