Roadside Kansas: A Traveler's Guide to Its Geology and Landmarks [Paperback]

Rex C. Buchanan (Author), James R. McCauley (Author), John R. Charlton (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2010

Two decades after its first publication, Roadside Kansas remains the premier guide to the geology, natural resources, landmarks, and landscapes along nine of the Sunflower State's major highways. During that span, however, many aspects of the Kansas landscape changed: the growth of some towns and near disappearance of others, the expansion of highways, the development of industry. Even the rocks themselves changed in places as erosion took its relentless toll. More broadly, there have been changes in the science of geology. This new edition reflects all of these changes and thoroughly updates the previous edition in ways that reinforce its preeminent status.

Covering more than 2,600 miles, Buchanan and McCauley organize their book by highway and milepost markers, so that modern-day explorers can follow the road logs easily, learning about the land as they travel through the state. Featuring more than 100 photographs, drawings, and maps, the book also provides deft descriptions of fascinating contemporary and historical features to be seen all across Kansas.

Especially in an economic era that has encouraged all of us to travel closer to home, the new edition is sure to be a hit with families from Kansas and the region who decide to explore and learn more about the state and its distinctive wonders. They'll discover what Buchanan and McCauley have known for a long time: Kansas highways provide much more than passage to Colorado or some other state. They are destinations in their own right.

Published for the Kansas Geological Survey.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"My family and I were delighted with the new things we learned about Kansas and Kansans." --Wichita Eagle

"Filled with fascinating detail, Roadside Kansas makes me want to take to the road." --Emporia Gazette

"Of use to every traveler on Kansas highways and a joy to the armchair traveler." --Journal of the West

"A fun way to discover things about the state of Kansas." --Hays News

From the Back Cover

"Travel the highways and see the terrain formed by elemental forces--limestone cliffs layered by ancient seas, boulders left by glaciers from the ice age, mysterious sink-holes, everlasting wells--all in this fascinating kaleidoscope of geology, history, pioneer tales, amusing anecdotes, and incidental information about the state."--Zula Bennington Greene, columnist "Peggy of the Flint Hills"

"Valuable information . . . well organized . . . and well written."--H. L. James, author of Scenic Trips to the Geologic Past

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas; 2 Rev Upd edition (March 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700617000
• ISBN-13: 978-0700617005
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #880,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Specific Locations

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roadside Kansas, May 7, 2002

By 

Steven Spacil (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roadside Kansas: A Traveler's Guide to Its Geology and Landmarks (Paperback)

I found Roadside Kansas by chance in the gift shop at the Old Mill in Lindsborg. I had been showing my wife and daughter some of the sights I knew about from growing up in Ellinwood, Kansas which is located right on the Santa Fe Trail (Highway 56).

Little did I know what a treasure we had found. Beginning as a geological research project by the authors the book took on a life of its' own as a very nice directory of various interesting attractions and oddities in Kansas. Its' photographs also prove to readers once and for all that Kansas IS NOT FLAT.

The first item of note we found was that we were just minutes from Coronado Heights, named after the Spanish explorer. We also found that wheel ruts from wagons traveling the Santa Fe Trail were still visible only a few miles east of my hometown. And I found that after having spent the better part of 27 years driving past and through Fort Zarah that the old cemetery still exists just north of the park out in a field only a few yards from where I had spent many evening hours with female companionship. Imagine my surprise!

Additionally, we found that about 25 miles west of Castle Rock, which I had visited and photographed many times while in college at Fort Hays, are what is known as the Kansas or Chalk Pyramids (just off Highway 83).

Needless to say I was excited and impressed. We spent the rest of our trip running the roads looking for mile markers and the treasures that lay beyond.

The book is laid out quite simply. Find the highway number you are traveling and what mile marker you are at and the book tells you what attraction is coming up with excellent directions for the directionally impaired. Oh, and I guess the geological information is pretty good too.

Since I found this text in 1995 I have wholeheartedly recommended it to anyone traveling the Land of Ahs, both visitor and resident, and all have been impressed. If you like to seek out items of interest off the beaten path, then this is your guide. I only wish those guys would do a book like this for every state in the Union.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kansas has a lot of rocks, September 26, 2000

By 

Michael J. Miller (Evansville, In USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Roadside Kansas: A Traveler's Guide to Its Geology and Landmarks (Paperback)

This is like a Roadside Geology on steroids. The single-spaced typed list I made of rock stops along I-70 alone was four pages long. Most major roads in the state are covered in similar detail, including not only the rocks, but historical sidelights and local oddities as well. With it, you'll never be bored driving across Kansas.

The reason I'm only giving it three stars is that, while it provides plenty of opportunities to collect, it gives you almost no help understanding what you get. Most formations are not even assigned to geological periods. Very frustrating.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the busy earth science teacher, November 7, 2002

By 

Douglas (Salem, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Roadside Kansas: A Traveler's Guide to Its Geology and Landmarks (Paperback)

Easy is the word that describes this book. The mile markers, bridges, towns, and other landmarks makes this text THE guide for the investigator from out of state. The museums described were excellent sources of information with plenty of friendly people to guide you toward additional landmarks. The roadcuts were full of described fossils, even my teen daughter found bags full of whole shellfish that littered the byways.
A small amount of research before hand can pay off big time in collecting the best fossils still on the back roads of America. Take this book along and the trip through Kansas will be one that you will remember for years to come.