8 Wonders of Butler County

1885 Frisco Water Tower in Beaumont  Today “to our knowledge” this tower is the last remaining Frisco-built wooden water tower of its kind in the U.S. Built in 1885 by the Frisco railroad, the tower provided water for many uses. Steam locomotive power, stationary boilers for cooling ashes and cleaning, fire protection and other similar purposes around the engine house and station buildings all utilized this tower’s service. The tower is made of cypress construction and the water tank dimensions are 14’ high x 22’ in diameter.

Augusta Historic Theater  in Augusta  Opened originally in June of 1935, the Augusta Historic Theatre was the first in the world to use neon illumination throughout the interior. This 633-seat auditorium with its Egyptian appearance was a hallmark of movie palaces built in America in the 1920s and 1930s. For more than 50 years the Bisagno family brought movies to this magnificent Augusta Theatre. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since October 1990.

Beaumont Hotel and Restaurant in Beaumont  This historic hotel is a unique dining experience providing a glimpse into the history of the cattle industry, early railroading and the vision of entrepreneurs of past ages. The hotel and restaurant is on the National Register and was built in 1879 and restored in 2001. The hotel has an original ‘50s style café and offers fine dining. Stop in and tour the 11-room bed and breakfast and watch as airplanes taxi down Main Street right to the front door.

The remaining finalists are: El Dorado Main Street Artscape public sculpture program,  1958 Tornado Memorial in El Dorado, El Dorado Lake and State Park, Jurassic Art in Rose Hill, Susie’s Chili Parlor in El Dorado, Walters Flowers and Interiors in El Dorado, McDonald Stadium in El Dorado, Glory of the Hills mosaic sculpture in El Dorado, Prairie Rose Chuckwagon, Infinity Art Glass in Kechi, Timbuktu in Andover and Oil Industry of Butler County.

Butler County History Center and Oil Museum in El Dorado  The Oil Museum is unique to Kansas and a tribute to the persons and industry that brought progress and notoriety to Butler County and Kansas. The new permanent exhibit, Glory of the Hills, explores the lives of early inhabitants, settlers, farmers and ranchers through historic photographs and artifacts. But it was oil that brought national attention to El Dorado. This museum offers the opportunity to walk the streets of a 1920s oil boom town and view oil field equipment.

Freedom Memorial in El Dorado  Located on the lawn of the historic Butler County Court House, this is a brick path memorial honoring more than 900 veterans, current members of the U.S. Armed Forces and those who served on the home front. The centerpiece of the memorial, a 6 1/2-foot bronze eagle, “Sovereign Wings,” rests majestically on top of a large limestone and brick base. A second memorial walk features the Statue of Liberty and American flag.

C.N. James Historic Cabin in Augusta  Built in 1868, the cabin stood one and a half stories tall and was known as the Shamleffer and James Trading Post. The cabin is built of hand-hewn cottonwood logs from along the Walnut River. The cabin is on the National Register of Historical Places and is one of only two, in the state of Kansas, on its original site. Augusta’s first school classes were held in the upper loft and it became the meeting place of the Baptist and Methodist churches and Masonic Lodge.

Coutts Memorial Museum of Art in El Dorado  The 1917 bank building that houses the museum is an impressive structure flavored by local history. The classic granite columns provide an appropriate entrance into the museum. Warren Hall Coutts, Jr. directed the renovation, interior design and décor of the building. The museum was dedicated in 1970.  Exhibits at the museum change on a monthly or bi-monthly basis and feature local and regional artists, as well as state and national traveling exhibits.

Walters’ Pumpkin Patch north of El Dorado on Highway 77  The Pumpkin Patch gives a family a day on the farm that everyone will enjoy and treasure. Explore the Corn Maze and ride hay wagons across the creaky bridge to the Haunted Cannery. It also offers a gift shop with specialty pumpkin food items and unique fall and Christmas décor. Pumpkin Fest begins the third week in September and continues daily through Oct. 31. It has covered outdoor seating for 200.