Goodland

Shattered Dream: America's First Patented Helicopter

First Patented Helicopter: A Shattered Dream

America’s First Patented Helicopter was a shattered dream William J. Purvis and Charles A. Wilson built America’s First Patented Helicopter in Goodland, KS, but Newton’s Third Law defeated them. Since every action has an equal and opposite reaction, any helicopter must compensate for the rotor’s twisting action. They never solved the torque problem, but they …

First Patented Helicopter: A Shattered Dream Read More »

Kidder Massacre title

Kidder Massacre: Lack of communication

“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.” — Cool Hand Luke, who could have been discussing the Kidder Massacre We wear a computer called a telephone, and tend to panic when we lack a signal. We often can’t endure being out of touch. In the 1860s, electronic communication was limited to widely-separated telegraph …

Kidder Massacre: Lack of communication Read More »

Best places title

The 12 best places to visit in Kansas

Enjoy the 12 best places to visit in Kansas Kansas is full of numerous beautiful and often quirky small cities. I love Kansas City and Wichita, but the state’s smaller places are the heart of Kansas. After 30 years of traveling throughout Kansas, these are my 12 best places to visit in Kansas. Leavenworth, Cottonwood …

The 12 best places to visit in Kansas Read More »

World's largest in Kansas Facebook title

The 20 World’s Largest Things in Kansas

Explore the World’s Largest Things in Kansas Scattered throughout Kansas, 18 World’s Largest Things will astound you. The colossal world-record holders range from a gigantic grain elevator to a huge hairball. Abilene boasts the newest world record, the World’s Largest Belt Buckle. Three US champions will astonish you, but three world champions lost their thrones. …

The 20 World’s Largest Things in Kansas Read More »

Telephone building title

Telephone Building is Art Deco masterpiece

Goodland gets a new telephone building, an Art Deco masterpiece Goodland’s United Telephone Building, an Art Deco masterpiece, was built in 1931 at 1003 Main. The Kansas Sampler Foundation said it’s one of the state’s most colorful buildings. When the 1930s began, Goodland’s exchange had more than 1,000 telephones. The system was overloaded. Goodland officials asked …

Telephone Building is Art Deco masterpiece Read More »

The black homesteader title

The black homesteader: William Johnson

A black artilleryman becomes a homesteader A gravestone in Goodland (Kan.) Cemetery honors Cpl. William Johnson, Company I, First United States Colored Heavy Artillery. This is his story. William Johnson of Hawkins County, Tenn., started his life as the property of his master. But before he died, Johnson was a property owner. He earned his …

The black homesteader: William Johnson Read More »

Goodland grasshopper invasion

Don’t fear the Goodland grasshopper

A farmer starts the gigantic Goodland grasshopper invasion The Goodland giant grasshopper invasion started with a farmer. Grasshoppers and farmers are an unusual combination. The reason is simple. Grasshoppers eat crops. Crops are a farmer’s source of income. Therefore, farmers don’t like grasshoppers. Except maybe as a gigantic sculpture. Don’t fear the grasshopper. It won’t …

Don’t fear the Goodland grasshopper Read More »

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)

RSS
Follow by Email
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Instagram
Reddit