Amazing food and little known history in Southeast Kansas
I knew there were six fried chicken restaurants in Southeast Kansas before I showed up. I’d done the research: I watched the Food Wars episode, a bunch of YouTube videos rating them – I even made a map to plot out our route. The plan was simple: eat at six chicken spots in two days. If it doesn’t sound like an easy task, I’m here to tell you it, in fact, was not.
When Miners Hall Museum’s newest Trustee, Joshua McCloud, dressed as a coal miner for the Pittsburg Independence Day Parade, he wasn’t simply wearing a costume. He was paying tribute to Giuseppe Penacchio – his great-grandfater whose journey from Italy to Southeast Kansas helped shape both his family and the community.
In the latest episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Historic Jefferson Highway” Podcast, host Lisa D. Smith sat down with Explore Crawford County to map out a truly legendary slice of American road-trip history.
From deep coal mining roots to the bustling preservation efforts happening today, this episode is the perfect road map for your next adventure as the region heads toward America 250 and gears up for the highly anticipated Route 66 Centennial!
As the area celebrates America’s 250th Anniversary and Pittsburg’s 150th, Miners Hall Museum has created three commemorative ledgers that will be placed in a vault at the end of 2026 to be opened in the future — like a time capsule.
When people think of Kansas, they often overlook its deep history and rich cultural roots. However, Southeast Kansas can pleasantly surprise you. From coal mining towns to Route 66 stops, this area is filled with stories you might not expect. I recently explored Pittsburg and nearby communities, and what stood out was how history is still very much alive in many of the places you can visit today.
For over 140 years, the small town of Frontenac, Kansas had almost everything its 3,000 residents needed – except a public library. All that changed when the city administrator got an unexpected phone call in 2019.
At only 13 miles long, Southeast Kansas doesn’t get nearly enough credit on the Route 66 conversation. But that’s exactly what makes it special. It’s compact, it’s weird, it’s kitschy, and you can drive the whole thing in a day.
Originally posted February 12, 2017 to celebrate World Radio Day on February 13 Today a local favorite among country listeners, the Pittsburg-based KKOW radio boasts an interesting beginning, a storied history of on-air personalities, and a bright future within a familiar community. To celebrate World Radio Day, let’s take a […]
From chatting with locals over breakfast to taking a guided tour of its museum, I was pleasantly surprised by Girard’s attractions, and the residents welcomed me warmly.
Rich soil and wine making traditions of immigrants positioned Eastern Kansas to rival California’s Wine Country. 67 years of Kansas Prohibition changed that.
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