Admit it. You wonder why folks from larger cities and colleges around the country are eager to come here for events. You don’t understand how Pittsburg, Kansas hotels reach more than 100,000 overnight stays in a year. Or, maybe, you don’t care.

Two days of academic panels and celebrations of Kansas history are coming to Pittsburg State University March 28-29 when the university hosts the 96th Annual Conference of the Kansas Associations of Historians.

A century ago, the foundations were laid for what would become a beloved Pittsburg landmark — a grand vision brought to life by influential local businessmen and backed by the generosity of citizens and the Chamber. Though time took its toll, leaving the building vacant and in disrepair, a new chapter is beginning. Renovation of Hotel Besse is underway, ensuring its legacy for generations to come.