Kansas: Highest Point & the Big Easel
Oh Kansas. I feel like if someone wants an equalizing state, metaphorically speaking, Kansas would be my top referral. I was told it would be flat. That it would be flat for a long while. But it wasn't until I went to "the highest point in Kansas" that I realized just how flat, how equally level the land was.
That high natural point in Kansas is known as Mount Sunflower. Sunflowers are my favorite so I felt inclined to go there anyhow. There was a lot of time on a dirt road, and a lot of feeling like if my phone dies I will be trapped here forever. But then I saw the sign and I was relieved.
It did seem to rise a little bit. And highest point is relative to the lowest point in Kansas which is significantly lower, but it's just not very noticeable from my limited vision of where I stood. According to Wikipedia though, Mount Sunflower rises 4,039 feet (1,231 m) making it 3,300 feet (1,010 m) above the state's topographic low point in southeastern Kansas. #themoreyouknow And the sunflower scultpure is actually made of railroad spikes.
The other thing not to miss in Kansas (at least so you can have a driving break) is the Big Easel. It's a replica of Vincent Van Gogh's Three Sunflowers in a Vase. Both are very accurate descriptions.
This large easel — the "World's Largest Painting on an Easel" to be more specific — was erected in 2001 in Goodland, Kansas. Goodland itself seems like one of those cute small-towns with a strong community. It measures 24x32 FEET. And it stands tall at the end of a little walkway.
The only regret I have driving through Kansas is not being able to stop to see the World's Largest Ball of Twine. One day...
