May 2007.............

Greensburg: A small town in central Kansas that was hit by an F5 tornado in May of 2007. The tornado was
estimated to be 1.7 miles wide and on the ground for nearly 22 miles. Ninety-five percent of the town was destroyed and the rest severely damaged. Winds were estimated to reach 205 mph. After the tornado, the city council passed a resolution that all city building would be built to LEED platinum standards, making it the first city in the nation to do so. Greensburg is rebuilding as a "Green" town.
We stopped and spent the night there on our way to AZ and eighteen months later they have made progress, however still have a long way to go. The courthouse was damaged and is still not open, there is one building standing on main street that looks like them may rebuild, and there are lots of new houses. There still isn't a grocery store, just a quick shop, but a Dillons (Kroger) store is nearing completion, and there is a new bank building. We parked in the street in front of "The BIg Well" (the largest hand dug well in the country), and spent the night. If you Google" Greensburg tornado pictures" you can see photos and video's that you won't believe.

Cottonwood Falls: In 1854 Seth Hays, an Indian trader founded a cattle ranch on the Cottonwood River. The area around the town was organized as Chase County in 1859. In 1873 the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railway reached Cottonwood Falls. Through the late 19th and early 20th century the area around the city was mainly farms and cattle ranches. It's the county seat and the courthouse that sits at the end of main street (a wonderful old brick street) is the oldest operating courthouse west of the Mississippi River. It's a French Renaissance building and was built in 1872-73 of native limestone. It's got beautiful stonework and spiral staircases. There is an old jail on the second floor. Definitely a place to visit while in the area.
The town also has a 4-star hotel, the Grand Central, in a restored 1884 building on Broadway Street (the main street). Don't miss the Emma Chase Cafe, also on the main street. The food was average and the pie was some of the best we've had for a while. On Saturday night Emma has a gathering of musicians, sometimes in front of her cafe and sometimes in a hall down the street. Everyone that wants to play just shows up for the jam session.
Getting to Cottonwood falls takes you through the Flint Hills of Kansas, the Continent's largest remaining tract of tallgrass.
Learn more about the Prairie on one of the next Kansas pages.

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