Cloud County Tourism

05/30/2026

Lady Shirley pays tribute to "Monuments and Minds" this month. We are reminded that character, generosity, and learning are key components of any strong community. Read the full article at www.cloudcountytourism.com/blog

05/29/2026

Wednesday we welcomed an after hours tour group from Southeast Kansas (and a few other places). They visited the National Orphan Train Complex, the Whole Wall Mural, and WWII German POW Camp Concordia. After the tour concluded we provided a surprise catered dinner at POW. We enjoyed having you all and hope you come see us again!

05/29/2026

Susie and Michelle traveled to Council Grove today for a North Central Kansas Tourism meeting. Morris County is the southernmost county in our tourism region and honestly one of the prettiest Kansas drives. Who doesn’t love a drive through the Flint Hills! They just have a whole different green than we have up further north. The wildflowers along K-177 were in full bloom and gorgeous!

The Territory Ballroom was a lovely space for a meeting. After we finished with tourism business we spent a little bit of time for fun! One of the best parts about these bi-monthly meetings is getting to learn a little bit more about the host community. We got a short trolley ride to the Kaw Mission State Historic Site. It is older than the State of Kansas and was used to “educate” Native Kanza male students beginning in 1851. Adding to the list of “things they don’t teach you in school” we learned that the males were the only ones brought to the mission, they were taught to become farmers among other things to learn how to assimilate. Kanza males did not do the farming. That was the women’s job. They hated it, felt emasculated, and often ran away. The Kaw Mission is full of so much information. We’ll definitely need to learn more and revisit.

After the tour we headed downtown. Council Grove has such a cute downtown. We especially love Flint Hills Books and Grove Gardens!

So much more to explore in Council Grove! We learn something new every time we get a chance to visit.

We stopped by Radina’s in Manhattan for a caffeine boost and a quick hello to a friend and The Fork in the Road for a bit more flowery color on this dreary rainy day and a sweet treat to take home.

05/22/2026

We will be open tomorrow 10am - 2pm, but will be closed Monday.

05/17/2026

We love seeing visitors to the Whole Wall Mural! We love it even more when we’re in town to greet them and tell the story, but Susie and Michelle spent some much needed time on the road…the Mother Road that is, Route 66! Don’t worry, we’ll be back in the office Monday. Thanks for stopping by, Christopher Kirkham Photography!

05/12/2026

We had the best time today with Prudent Tours! They were able to see the Whole Wall Mural, the Brown Grand Theatre, eat lunch on the stage, WWII German POW Camp Concordia, and the National Orphan Train Complex. Come back and see us anytime! We have so many more stories to tell!

Thank you to Walmart Concordia, Duis Meat Processing, Lisa Valcoure, and Fran Trost for helping with today’s meal!

05/08/2026

Our office has been filled with the voices, imaginations, and inquisitive minds of 2nd and 3rd Graders this week! They enjoy learning about how the Whole Wall Mural was made and going outside for a scavenger hunt to find all the hidden items. Tuesday we entertained 3rd Graders from Concordia and 3rd Graders from St. Gregory’s in Marysville. Wednesday brought more Concordia 3rd Graders. Then today we hosted 2nd and 3rd Graders from Lakeside Elementary in Cawker City. Whew! Susie may have encouraged a group to pump their fists to get the semi trucks to honk! We hope you all enjoyed your trips to the Wall, the Cloud County Museum, and the National Orphan Train Complex.

05/07/2026

Don’t miss the Motherhouse Plant Sale Saturday! 😍

Plant Sale Preview: Just waiting for their new home!
https://www.csjkansas.org/a-decade-in-bloom-annual-plant-sale-garage-sale-set-for-may-9/

05/06/2026

Join the Cloud County Museum on Saturday, May 9th at 2pm. This mystery is intriguing...

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Cloud County Museum will present the second program in its series, “Who Was This Mystery Colonist?”

This engaging program invites the public to discover the story of a Cloud County resident’s ancestor who came to America with his father, was known by the honorary title of Captain ?, and was a friend of the Mohicans. Many may not realize that their own ancestors played a role in shaping the nation’s history. This series highlights the fascinating and often surprising family connections within our community—exploring where these individuals came from, what they did, and how their contributions helped form our country.

The program will feature a PowerPoint presentation with maps and artwork, along with a living history component as the featured figure is portrayed in period-appropriate attire. Attendees will also have the opportunity to guess the identity of the mystery colonist based on clues presented at the beginning of the program.

The event will be held at the Cloud County Museum on May 9 at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Please use the main entrance on 7th Street. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact the museum at [email protected] or call 785-243-2866

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