U.S.A. - Kansas - State Flower (2)

SUNFLOWERS - KANSAS STATE FLOWER

Sent by Shirley from Topeka, Kansas, USA.

U.S.A. - Kansas - State Capitol Building

The Kansas State Capitol, built 1866-1903, draws visitors because of its architecture, its interesting dome, and the John Steuart Curry mural, "The Settlement of Kansas," with John Brown as its central figure, sitting atop the dome is a 22' 2" statue "Ad Astra" sculpted by Salina artist Richard Bergen. Facing the North Star to guide travelers, as was common when the Kansa Indians lived here; Ad Astra means "To the stars thru difficulties."

Sent by Shirley from Topeka, Kansas, USA.

The Kansas State Capitol, known also as the Kansas Statehouse, is the building housing the executive and legislative branches of government for the U.S. state of Kansas. It is located in the city of Topeka which has served as the capital of Kansas since it became a state in 1861. This is only the second building to serve as the Kansas Capitol.

A large mural in the east wing, painted by Kansan John Steuart Curry, is centered on an image of abolitionist John Brown. This is believed to be the only instance of a person convicted of treason being featured in a state capitol.

The dome, at 304 ft (93 m), is taller than the 288 ft (88 m) United States Capitol dome although its diameter (50 ft (15 m)) is approximately half the national capitol (96 ft (29 m)). It is one of the few capitols in the United States that continues to offer tours that go to the top of the dome. The dome is, however, temporarily closed to visitors until 2012, as the Statehouse is undergoing extensive renovations. Visitors enter the dome by climbing 296 steps leading from the fifth floor to the top. (read further)

U.S.A. - Kansas - Mapcard (2)

Sent by Shirley from Topeka, Kansas, USA.

USA - Kansas - State Flower (1)

The state flower of Kansas is the Sunflower. This field is located in Northern Sedgwick county.

Sent by Melissa, a postcrosser from Kansas.

"Kansas recognized the sunflower as official state flower in 1903 (the sunflower is also featured on the Kansas state quarter, state flag, and the nickname for Kansas is "The Sunflower State)."

Excerpt from Kansas legislation:

Whereas, Kansas has a native wild flower common throughout her borders, hardy and conspicuous, of definite, unvarying and striking shape, easily sketched, moulded, and carved, having armorial capacities, ideally adapted for artistic reproduction, with its strong, distinct disk and its golden circle of clear glowing rays -- a flower that a child can draw on a slate, a woman can work in silk, or a man can carve on stone or fashion in clay; and

Whereas, This flower has to all Kansans a historic symbolism which speaks of frontier days, winding trails, pathless prairies, and is full of the life and glory of the past, the pride of the present, and richly emblematic of the majesty of a golden future, and is a flower which has given Kansas the world-wide name, "the sunflower state"...

Be it enacted ... that the helianthus or wild native sunflower is ... designated ... the state flower and floral emblem of the state of Kansas.

American Indians were using native sunflowers for food over 3,000 years ago. These wild sunflower seeds were only about 5 mm. long. Over hundreds of years and careful husbandry (selecting only the largest seeds for cultivation), the plains indians began the development of today's large modern sunflower, rich with oil.

Sunflower heads consist of 1,000 to 2,000 individual flowers joined together by a receptacle base. The large petals around the edge of a head are actually individual ray flowers, which do not develop into seed.

There are more than 60 species of sunflowers. The Native Sunflower grows to 15 feet tall with flower heads up to 2 feet in diameter, and can produce over 1,000 seeds from one plant. The flower head turns and faces the sun throughout the day - tracking the sun's movement. Sunflower seeds are rich in protein and yield a high-quality vegetable oil."

USA - Kansas - Mapcard (1)

This one from Park City in Kansas, was sent by the Mewes Family who responded to our ad in WISHUPONAHERO.