Greensburg’s history can be seen in many different places: the Big Well, a historic opera house and memorials to the 2007 tornado. The city also offers art, with exhibitions, classes and performances. This gives you the chance to choose your own focus during your stay, from local history to creative activities.
The Big Well and self-guided tour
The Big Well was completed in 1888. It is 109 feet deep and 32 feet wide. It opened as an attraction in 1939; at the time, visitors could descend to the bottom. The well also houses the Space Wanderer pallasite meteorite. The Big Well Museum & Visitors Center displays photographs, graphics and objects related to the 2007 tornado.
You can explore Greensburg on a self-guided tour on foot or by bicycle. Maps and free bicycles are available to borrow from the Big Well Museum. Exploring the city on your own gives you the option of choosing between a walking tour and a bike tour. The Big Well offers a distinctive historical focus, while the exhibition at the Visitors Center addresses the 2007 tornado.
Art and architecture
The 5.4.7 Arts Center offers classes, exhibitions and performances. Courses and workshops for all ages include workshops with guest artists, as well as local classes in watercolor, pastel and ceramics. The program thus combines different forms of art-making with exhibitions and live performances.
Greensburg’s architecture is also reflected in its buildings. The 5.4.7 Arts Center building is LEED Platinum certified and was the first building of its kind in Kansas. The SunChips Business Incubator was the first municipal building in Kansas to receive LEED Platinum certification. The Robinett Building has a different story: built as a commercial building in 1915, it was the only building in downtown to survive the tornado. Its sustainable renovation included energy-efficient windows, new insulation, an efficient HVAC system and bamboo flooring.
Museum, soda fountain and local history
The Kiowa County Historical Museum shares the history of Kiowa County through artifacts, exhibitions and programs. The soda fountain is part of the museum’s “living history.” The Hunter Drug building, constructed in 1917, originally housed the soda fountain, which is still in operation today. This brings the county’s history and the story of a place that remains in operation together under one theme, while keeping them distinct aspects of a visit.
The Kiowa County Historical Museum and Soda Fountain is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays. Check the opening hours before you travel. The hours are especially useful for planning if the museum is a central part of your visit.
Memorials and public art
Memorial Plaza is located on land donated to the city by the Fleener-Beck family in memory of the 2007 tornado. A gray granite marker in the plaza bears the names of ten Greensburg residents who died in the tornado. The Water Tower Sculpture was created from parts of the city’s former water tower and donated to Greensburg as a memorial.
Starlight Public Art Park features several sculptures. These include The Beacon, which commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Greensburg tornado. Alongside Memorial Plaza, these works of art offer another focus on remembrance; the sculptures also give the subject a distinct form in public space.
Theater history and events
The Twilight Theatre began as a brick opera house; its first performance took place on April 16, 1917. The new Twilight Theatre opened in April 2015 as a versatile venue for films, live events and school programs. The two dates mark different chapters in the theater’s history: its beginnings as an opera house and the opening of the new venue for multiple uses.
For the broader travel overview: Kiowa County.
