Treasures Discovered While on My Quest

View of a small waterfall and calm river framed by the underside of a concrete bridge. Sunlight reflects on the water, surrounded by rocks and lush green trees. The scene is peaceful and natural, with blue sky and shadows creating contrast under the bridge.
Cottonwood Falls and Chase County Courthouse
A sweet little town along the Flint Hills Scenic Byway features an iconic limestone courthouse that would fit perfectly well along any European city street.
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The interior of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church features vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. Wooden pews face an ornate altar adorned with religious symbols. Warm lighting illuminates the space, highlighting intricate architectural details and decorative elements.
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
After a few productive days at the Kreher RV park, I knew that my first stop would be the Catholic Church near the RV park that I had passed as I came into town.
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A vast grassy hill under a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds. The landscape features a gently sloping hill with sparse green vegetation. In the distance, the Father Juan Padilla Monument stands at the crest of the hill, surrounded by expansive open space.
Father Juan Padilla Monument
One of the most isolated, unknown, and lonely monuments I visited that commemorates one of the early missionaries to the Americas.
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The historic Old County Courthouse in Ontonagon is a charming red brick building with green vines climbing its walls, surrounded by lush trees and grass. A stone monument with a plaque stands on the right. The scene is peaceful and verdant, with a cloudy sky visible through the leaves.
Ontonagon Old County Courthouse
As I headed to the Lakeshore Park from the Ontonagon Lighthouse, I drove past this old brick building covered with Ivy and had to stop to explore and take some photographs.
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A centennial monument captures a group of horses and riders in motion, set on grassy terrain near a small pond. The dynamic scene unfolds under a cloudy sky, with scattered clouds overhead. Pathways lined with sparse autumnal trees enhance the naturalistic setting, reminiscent of the historic Land Run.
Centennial Land Run Monument
While in Oklahoma City, I had to check out this massive monument. I'd heard about it and wanted to experience it as there are very few sculptures anywhere near its size.
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Judy Garland's Childhood Home. A charming white two-story house with a front balcony and small yard, nestled under a partly cloudy sky.
Judy Garland Museum
Years ago, I visited Dorthy's House and The Wizard of Oz museum in Liberal, Kansas, and it only seemed right to swing into the main character's childhood home.
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A small, rundown schoolhouse sits isolated in a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky, with a few trees and an old utility pole nearby.
HWY 283 and Union School District No. 1
Driving on HWY 283 offered a few interesting places to stop and take some pictures of an abandoned schoolhouse, an old stone shed, and a roadside memorial for Chris.
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A scenic view of Split Rock Lighthouse perched on a rocky cliff surrounded by lush green trees. The calm blue sea stretches out beneath the cliff, and a partly cloudy sky adds depth to the horizon. Leafy branches frame the right side of the image, enhancing the natural beauty.
Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world, and I was excited to learn more about this iconic structure and its impact on Lake Superior.
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A small stone castle with two round towers and a bright red entrance stands proudly like a museum nestled among tall trees in Minnesota. The foreground features a cracked asphalt parking lot with a wheelchair accessible space, benches flanking the entrance, and several trash bins to the right.
Minnesota Mining Museum
There is so much to learn about mining in the United States, and this was an excellent place to start, especially with all of the big heavy equipment they had to explore.
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A stretch of grassy Kansas Plains leads to the tall, rugged Monument Rocks under a clear blue sky.
Monument Rocks AKA Chalk Pyramids
Rising like a castle on the middle of the Kansas Plains, Monument Rocks stood out in the plains as a much needed confirmation for those on the Smoky Hills Trail in the 1800s
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Large dark rocks with ancient petroglyphs, showing animal and abstract designs, rest on a rocky, grassy hillside in the Tonopah desert. Sparse shrubs and cacti are scattered across the slope under a cloudy sky.
Petroglyphs Near Tonopah
Hike from a campsite to find the petroglyphs marked on Google Maps. Ended up finding a few and had some fun just wandering around.
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Front view of the Plainview Klowndoll Museum, a white building with red accents, decorated with colorful clown illustrations and balloons. A sign offers free admission.
Plainview Klowndoll Museum
This is one of the funniest and craziest places I've visited, with a collection of over 8,000 clowns. It is definitely an unexpected treat in Nebraska.
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Shea's Ultimate American Quest