Buffalo Bill Cultural Center Gift Shop
Gift shop showcasing many Kansas artists and products. The cultural center in Oakley is the mid-point of the Western Vistas Historic Byway…
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ROAD CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. Between Colorado State Line and KS 27, a stretch of US 40 is closed due to bridge construction work until November 1, 2024. Wallace County is still open for business! See maps for various detours to help you reach your destination.
Visit a rugged landscape on the culturally and visually fascinating route known as the Western Vistas Historic Byway. Imagine an ancient ocean once covering the shortgrass prairie. When the water receded and erosion set in, the ocean floor's limestone layers became not only flat plains but oddly placed and shaped buttes, mounts, and other chalk formations. Here, in western Kansas, is the Wild, Wild West of legend; this is where pioneers trekked, rustlers roamed, and Pueblo Natives sought refuge and hunted bison - all attempting to eke out a living.
The region surrounding the Byway is a geology and paleontology paradise punctuated with unusual rock formations and among the best fossil hunting areas in the world. Active fossil digs began with regularity in the 1870s. Early discoveries contributed significantly to the fossil record and included previously unknown and extinct animals, such as flying reptiles and toothed birds. While the area literally "rocks," its cultural history may be petrifying to some. Here you can experience El Quartelejo Museum and Jerry Thomas Gallery and Collection where Fossils Meet the Frontier and Art and History Tell a Story; then explore Fort Wallace, "the fightin-est Fort in the West”; walk in the footsteps of bison hunter Buffalo Bill Cody; encounter the ruins from the migration of the Pueblo Indians to El Cuartelejo; and visit Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork, the site of the last conflict between the Northern Cheyenne and the United States troops.
Distance: 102 miles
Traveling from Scott City, KS to Sharon Springs, KS: Beginning in Scott City, head north on US 83. At the intersection with K-95, turn left and head north for a drive through Historic Lake Scott State Park. Upon leaving the park, continue north on US 83 towards Oakley, KS. On the way to Oakley, don't forget to stop by Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. Once you get to Oakley, make a left on the classic US-40 Highway and head west towards Sharon Springs, KS. Staying on US-40, the route eventually concludes in Sharon Springs, KS.
Traveling from Sharon Springs, KS to Scott City, KS: Beginning in Sharon Springs, KS, head east on the classic US-40 Highway towards Oakley, KS. Once you reach Oakley, turn right on US 83 and head south towards Scott City, KS. On the way to Scott City, don't forget to stop by Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. When you return to US-83, head south. At the intersection with K-95, turn right and head south for a drive through Historic Lake Scott State Park. Upon leaving the park, continue south on US 83 until the route eventually concludes in Scott City, KS.
Gift shop showcasing many Kansas artists and products. The cultural center in Oakley is the mid-point of the Western Vistas Historic Byway…
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ROAD CONSTRUCTION UPDATE! ROAD CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. Between Colorado State Line and KS 27, a stretch of US 40 is closed due to bridge…
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For more information about the Western Vistas Historic Byway, contact:
info@westernvistashistoricbyway.com