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Enjoy Chanute's Many Tourist Attractions Take this Beautiful Visual Tour of Chanute What's Happening in our Community...Just Contact Us to Add an Event! Good Food & Comfortable Accomodations...It's all Right Here in Chanute! Explore the Visiting Page on the City of Chanute's web site Community, Schools, Churches...Find it all Here  

Stop in the Chamber office at 21 N. Lincoln for a $5.00 coupon for Main Street Family Restaurant. (One coupon per visitor group.) The Chamber is open from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Award-winning exhibits and programs highlight the achievements of Martin and Osa Johnson, pioneering documentary filmmakers, photographers, authors, explorers and Kansans. Relive the Johnson's 1917-1936 adventures in Africa, Borneo and the South Seas. The museum offers educational programs throughout the year for children and adults, regular showings of Johnson films, a large research library and a museum gift store. Additional exhibits feature the rich culture and art of Africa with changing themes. Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. Call (620) 431-2730. www.safarimuseum.com

 

Built in 1902-03 this was Santa Fe's fifth depot in Chanute and was the hub of the community when it was built. Currently on the National Register of Historic Places, this depot was for many years the Southern Division Headquarters for the Santa Fe Railroad. It featured a large Harvey House Restaurant, Wells Fargo Express office and reading room and handled 10 passenger trains daily. In 1917 the depot doubled in size, adding a large dining room to the Harvey House Restaurant to accommodate the increasing number of passengers traveling by train. After soliciting nearly $2,000,000 in private donations in 1991, the depot was historically restored and today houses the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum on the south end and the Chanute Public Library on the north. The area adjacent to the depot has been developed into a plaza area featuring a gazebo, hike/bike path and a small collection of rail stock. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday 1  p.m. to 4 p.m. Closed major holidays.

 

Stop by and enjoy one of Chanute's most historic buildings. Commonly known as the Flat Iron Building, this unusual structure is now home to a museum featuring Chanute artifacts. Members of the Chanute Historical Society opened the museum in June 2005. The collection on display contains sports, railroad and aviation memorabilia.

Currently, the facility is open Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. For more information call (620) 431-1814 or  (620) 431-0081.

 

Unique for a small town, the Chanute Art Gallery includes more than 1,500 square feet of exhibit area and houses a Permanent Core Collection of more than 500 works of art that includes 25 mediums, representing 135 artists. Special exhibits change every month. Collections include: The Luigi Kasimir Etchings, European and Oriental Art, The Kansas Prairie Printmakers and local and area artists. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed major holidays.  The Chanute Art Gallery is handicapped accessible. Clubs, organizations and groups are welcome. Special tours can be arranged by contacting the Gallery at (620) 431-7807.

 

Located in the heart of downtown, this sculpture was dedicated in September 2003 and a gift to the community by the Chanute High School Class of 1941.

The sculpture honors engineer and city namesake, Octave Chanute, and the Wright Brothers. Chanute was a mentor to Wilbur and Orville Wright and very influential in the early days of flight exploration. The sculpture measures 23 feet from wingtip to wingtip and 20 feet from nose to tail. The project was in partnership with the City of Chanute.

 

Discover a variety of retail shops offering a wide range of goods and services in downtown Chanute. Downtown is home to historic buildings and restaurants that include everything from a charming old-fashioned soda fountain and coffee shop atmosphere to full meals with family dining and ethnic foods. Clothing, gift shops, jewelry and more are available to satisfy all of your shopping needs. Chanute is proud to be a member of the Main Street USA organization. Other wonderful specialty shops are located near the downtown district.

                       Historic Tioga Hotel
12 East Main

Enjoy one of Chanute's treasure... the Tioga Hotel. Built in 1926, the hotel was one of the first completely fire-proof structures in the state. The building is now home to Tioga Suites Hotel. Two restaurants are located inside the hotel. For more information on the Tioga, phone (620) 431-3343.

 

A blend of art and historic preservation, Summit Hill Gardens offers a step back in history. The first school in Neosho County, Summit Hill was restored and a historic home and modern structure were added to create a one-of-a-kind family residence. Available for sale are a wide variety of  handcrafted soaps, baby items and heirloom plants. The flower and herb gardens are breathtaking.

Nestled in beautiful rural Neosho County, Summit Hill Gardens is located at 2605 160th Road. For directions and more information, call (620) 212-3878.

 

Camp for up to 10 days - first two days are free, remaining days are $10.00 per day. Pull-through, padded sites with water and electric are available. Shower facilities and a dump station are nearby. It is located near Safari Public Golf Course, Santa Fe Park, ball diamonds and a great fishing lake. Chanute takes great pride in being the home of NuWa Industries, manufacturer of the Hitchhiker 5th-wheel recreational vehicles. Tours are available Monday through Friday. The NuWa factory is located in the Safari Industrial Park just south of 35th Parkway.  Call (620) 431-2088 for more information. The RV park is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. 

 

Be sure to stop by Cardinal Drug Store in downtown Chanute and take a step back in time. Cardinal is the home of one of the oldest original soda fountains in Kansas...and probably is in the top three of the 45 soda fountains left in operation.

A collection of Coke memorabilia and medicine bottles adds to the wonderful atmosphere. Cardinal is located at 103 East Main Street.

 

The King Bridge Company constructed the Austin Bridge in 1872. The 160-foot bowstring arch design spanned the Neosho River east of what is now Chanute. Local pioneers invested $15,000 in the bridge for their economic future of getting livestock and crops to the railhead. In 1910 the bridge was moved downstream to the community of Austin. 

In 1972 it was closed to vehicular traffic, remaining open to foot traffic. On September 15, 1977 the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In August of 1999 the bridge was moved into Santa Fe Park to become the southern terminus of a 3.11 mile hike/bike path. A Federal grant, Neosho County and the City of Chanute funded the project.

 

Both the downtown and historic home districts offer a variety of architectural styles and beautiful examples of restoration. 

The historic home driving tour takes you down broad, tree-lined streets that make you feel you have stepped back into another era. Chanute's wonderful downtown is filled with historic buildings, most of which have been restored to their original beauty. Chanute also has several examples of WPA projects.

 

Santa Fe Park, 27th & South Santa Fe:  The largest park in Chanute contains six ball diamonds (three youth, one baseball and two adult softball), horseshoes, sand volleyball court, playground equipment, fishing, boating and picnic areas and shelters. A 3.11 mile hike/bike path leads to the Martin Johnson Airport. Also located at the park are the Historic Austin Bridge and a 762 Steam Engine.

Central Park, Second & Forest:  Great playground equipment for all ages, horseshoes, picnic area and the Central Park Pavilion. To reserve the Pavilion, call (620) 431 - 5217.

Katy Park, South Main & Katy:  Home to Chanute's historic baseball stadium, basketball court, handball court, tennis court, shelter house/picnic area, playground and a skateboard park, Katy Park offers fun and relaxation under large shade trees.

Highland Park, Chestnut & Kansas:  Shelter houses, picnic areas, fountain area, playground, fishing lake and tennis courts provide a relaxing, fun park.  Highland Park also offers a gazebo area that can be used for weddings.

 

 

 

Chanute Area Chamber of Commerce & Office of Tourism

 21 North Lincoln      P.O. Box 747      Chanute, KS 66720     
Voice: (620) 431-3350      Toll Free: (877) 431-3350       Fax (620) 431-7770
information@chanutechamber.com

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