We want to thank Visit Hays and all of their local partners for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Before Man

While it may not be necessary to go this far back in time, we found our visit to the Sternberg Museum very enlightening. Exploring the formation of our state helped us gain a better understanding of things we have seen at many other destinations. The layer upon layer of silt, that formed during the days of the sea, are evident when visiting nearby Monument Rocks. It also makes for perfect fossil hunting, which is apparent in the numerous displays at the museum. As we explored the various exhibits, we found ourselves being drawn back to the earliest days. This place is a great family-friendly attraction to add to your itinerary.

On the Edge

Moving forward in time, our date with history took us to the frontier days. As settlers were migrating west, it was imperative that new cities sprang up to offer safety and rest stops. A visit to Fort Hays Historic Site gave us a peek into life for the soldiers and families that were stationed here. The town had a rough and tumble reputation that came with being on the edge of the frontier. The early citizens included buffalo hunters, speculators, gunmen, and even outlaws. Hays, Kansas would be home to the original “Boot Hill”, which would later be overshadowed by the one in Dodge City. Soldier life was a juxtaposition between hard labor and unstructured free time. Often, a soldier would find himself in the guardhouse for breaking one of the post rules.

Making a Life on the Plains

As time marched on, the lawlessness would subside. Now came the period for new emigrants to build a city that would prosper and flourish on the open plains. At the Ellis County Historical Museum we saw a replica of an early German residence. The influx of new residents brought important trades and skills that allowed businesses to develop. Saloons and brothels were replaced with livery stables, blacksmiths, and harness shops. Progress was marching forward in Hays, Kansas. During our date with history, we had learned how this prairie town moved into the modern age.

Easy Eats

Now you can’t expect us to do all of this research without a few food stops. One of our favorite activities in new destinations is scoping out the local restaurant scene. During our visit to Hays, we had enough time to sample a few options. For those looking for a quick meal, we stopped into two good choices that offer plenty of choices for the whole family. Taco Shop has been serving the local community for decades. They offer up affordable meals that draw in the university crowd. A relative newcomer to the restaurant scene is Tiger Burgers. Housed in an old gas station, this burger joint has some interesting flavor combinations. Be sure to check out their Burger of the Month.

Local Life

Sometimes we enjoy lingering over a meal, so we added a couple of places that really made us feel at home. The morning that would find us on our date with history began with breakfast at Pheasant Run Pancake House. Hanging with some locals was a great way to start our day of exploring. We also had a nice meal with one of our hosts. Janet joined us for dinner at Gella’s Diner and filled us in on what was happening in Hays. While the food was exceptional, it was the evening of conversation that made it extra special.

Retail Therapy

What we learned from Janet was Hays has seen a ton of redevelopment in their downtown corridor. This is a scenario that we have found repeated in many of the cities that we visit. That meant we needed to check out the retail scene for ourselves with a couple hours of shopping. We loved how many of the local businesses had repurposed existing historic buildings, instead of razing them to build something new. It adds another level of charm to a boutique when we can feel the age of the city in its bones. Of course, I think Crystal was more focused on the cute clothes and accessories she was finding in the boutique shops.

Don’t Forget the Guys

Many times, this portion of the visit leaves me meandering around a little, but Hays had a couple of surprises. There are always a couple of things for men, but usually they are mostly minimal, as us men are used to finding. In Hays, not only did I find a nice selection at one of the larger boutiques, but there is an entire clothing shop dedicated to us. It was one of those rare times that the roles were reversed and Crystal was the one watching me shop.

Sweet Endings

Here is when we need to gush a little about our hosts at the Hays CVB. (Convention & Visitors Bureau) When we dropped by their offices to meet the staff, they surprised us with a bouquet of beautiful hand-decorated cookies. These were produced at Augustine’s Bakery, which prides itself in fresh made pastries. These treats made a perfect accompaniment for our morning coffee at our hotel. We were so impressed with the cookies that we had to drop by their shop to thank them in person.

A Date with History

Too often we hear people lament about the long drive across the state of Kansas. Our time in Hays proved out the belief that there are great things all around us, we just have to look. Our hope is that you will enjoy our articles about this city of the plains and it sparks you to make your own visit. We are confident that you will find plenty of family-friendly activities to help fuel your own date with history. Just make sure you stop in and get some of those cookies!

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We want to thank Hays CVB and Taco Shop for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Beating the Crowd

When we stepped through the door, we found that we had the place almost to ourselves. There were a couple of students from the nearby university who were picking up lunch to go. The clean lines and basic seating arrangement spoke volumes of a business that passes through their doors every day. You just don’t make it in the restaurant business for 50 years and counting without growing a huge cult following. This requires attention to detail and the ability to deliver consistency.

Make it Easy

Another key to longevity is making life as easy as possible for your customers. One way that Taco Shop does this is by providing visual assistance to its menu. We loved that we could see examples of each of the dishes. It is a well-known fact that we eat first with our eyes. Seeing all of the choices laid out in front of us actually made it more difficult for me. After all, I wanted so bad to sample a variety of them but knew that I had to remember to keep my eyes in check with my stomach. Displaying photos of menu items can be a very bold move. This means that you have to replicate the look time after time, so as not to face the ire of an unsatisfied customer.

A Dab of This

After spending some time staring at the options, I decided to go with a classic, the Taco Salad. My last version of this dish had come from a Mexican restaurant in KCK. Taco Shop serves theirs up in a crispy tortilla bowl that is just as delicious as the fillings. Crystal selected Combo Dinner #2. It combines a trio of classics that gives an excellent cross-section of Tex-Mex dishes. They start with a crispy hard-shelled taco that rivaled my salad. They toss in an enchilada and burrito to boot. Diners get to choose the protein for the filling, and as expected, Crystal picked chicken.

A Pinch of That

Janet is a veteran of Taco Shop dining, so she definitely helped guide our selections. She went straight for the Nacho Supreme, which combines a plethora of flavors. The base is a bed of Mexicali Rice, which they cover with a hearty helping of corn chips. Now it gets interesting. Shredded grilled chicken, shredded Monterrey jack and cheddar cheeses, olives, tomatoes, jalapenos, sour cream, and chili con queso are piled on top. Then they cap it off with another helping of the rice. That’s a lot of great flavors all rolled into one dish.

50 Years and Counting

To be a mainstay business for 50 years and counting is not something that happens by accident. Taco Shop prepares its fresh ingredients daily so that they are offering their customers top-quality dishes. Even with this attention to detail, they manage to keep their prices down, so as to be affordable for the local student population. Something we have discovered in our years of traveling is that college towns have some of the best restaurants. This place is a solid reminder of that principle.

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We want to thank Visit Hays and Kansas Historical Society for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Life on the Plains

When it was built, the fort had been originally named Fort Fletcher. This outpost was designed to help protect wagon trains and stagecoaches from attacks by Native Indian tribes. Even with the military presence, raids would still be made by the Cheyenne and Arapaho. In late 1866, the name was changed to Fort Hays t honor General Alexander Hays, who served on the side of the Union, during the Civil War. After the railroad was built five miles to the north, the fort had to be relocated in 1867. With the grouping of the railroad, nearby Big Creek, and the fort, it was just a matter of time before new communities sprung up.

Family Life

After stopping at the visitor’s center, we soon found ourselves in the midst of a tour. While the original fort contained around 45 structures, we found far fewer remain. Our guide led us to a row of houses that would have been home to officers and their families. Inside we found the rooms set up much like they would have been during the times that the Army was taming the plains. While we saw similar accommodations during a visit to Fort Scott, the addition of the mannequins made this really look like a home.

Meal Preparation

Stepping into the kitchen, we could almost smell the freshly baked meal that was displayed on the dining table. In the pantry, we could see a collection of basic ingredients that would have been required for everyday sustenance. Having to make everything from scratch would have certainly occupied a large portion of the day. Having to do it in a house that had no running water, and working with a wood-fired stove would have made the task even more challenging.

Steady Supplies

In one of the other buildings, we found this exhibit showcasing a general store. It was a reminder of the sparse amount of options people faced when supplying the homes. It’s a far cry from the vast amount of variety that we face whenever we head into a store. Even today’s simplest convenience stores hold a far superior amount of goods than one would have found in the late 1800s.

Winter Preview

The scheduled tour section of our visit was wrapping up, and from this point, it is a search and see style of exploring. Just a couple of days prior the temperatures had been in the low 90s, but now we faced 40s and drizzles. It was a harsh reminder of the severe weather changes that the soldiers and settlers would have faced on the plains. This is one of those times we are thankful for the modern conveniences that make handling the unexpected swings a little easier.

The Guardhouse

Fort Hays State Historic Site still retains four of its original buildings. Besides the two officer’s homes, it also has the 1867 blockhouse, as well as the 1872 guardhouse. We made our way along the path to the guardhouse, which holds the largest collection of exhibits. The structure is 100 feet long and 24 feet deep. We can only imagine the flow of disorderly soldiers who occupied the guardhouse. Being assigned to the task of taming the plains left plenty of free time for mischievousness.

Keeping the Peace

There was a wide range of reasons for punishment among the ranks. Gambling, drunkenness, theft, fighting, insubordination, and desertion were some of the more common. The levels of discipline were usually prescribed by the commanding officer. With room and board is supplied by the Army, the soldier was free to use his pay for how he saw fit. Too many filled the empty hours with liquor. Touring sites, such as Fort Hays, provides a stark shot of reality to the life faced by soldiers on the western front.

Cramped Confines

Duties of the soldiers at the fort included things besides regular patrols. Constructing buildings, chopping wood, caring for the animals, and tending vegetable gardens would have kept some busy. The expanding frontier would require the construction of telegraph lines or guarding railroad crews. Even so, there were still those who ended up in the guardhouse. The cells used to house punished soldiers were small, to say the least. With no space to move and bereft of any distractions, the soldier had plenty of opportunities to consider his actions.

Sharing Space

On the western frontier, you would think that space wouldn’t be an issue. While there was plenty of it in the great outdoors, inside the barracks would be quite different. In the early days of Fort Hays, the soldiers were required to share bunks. It was quite a shock to us to see that each set would hold four men. The task of taming the plains brought some familiar names to Fort Hays. Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody both served as scouts during campaigns against the Cheyenne and Kiowa.

Buffalo Soldiers

Portions of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, often referred to as the “Buffalo Soldiers”, called Fort Hays home temporarily. This group was originally formed at Fort Leavenworth, in 1866. Their nickname was given to them by the Native Indians that they fought in the American Indian Wars. Racial prejudice was just as prevalent in the frontier ranks as it was in civilian life, during the late 1800s. While Buffalo Soldiers made up 20% of the Calvary, they were given less than 4% of the Medals of Honor awarded.

Taming the Plains

The list of infamous names that were stationed at Fort Hays would not be complete without including George Custer. After some dubious activities, which led to a nearly one-year suspension, Custer would lead the 7th Calvary during the Battle of Washita River. Following a lead that this particular band had recently raided white settlers, they attacked Black Kettle’s party of Cheyenne at their winter camp near Cheyenne, Oklahoma. Wintering parties included Arapaho, Kiowa, and Comanche, all combined around 6,000 Native Indians who were camped along portions of the river. Black Kettle’s group of Cheyenne was situated farthest west on the Washita River.

Hard Decisions

Black Kettle was no stranger to the growing push to remove native Indians from desirable lands. His tribe had been one of those that the 3rd Colorado Calvary had almost completely slaughtered during the Sand Creek Massacre. Most of the victims of this raid were women and children. Even after this assault, Black Kettle continued to counsel for peace. He knew that the Native Indian tribes did not have the numbers to present a significant military resistance. This Cheyenne chief moved the remaining members of his tribe to the newly formed Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Unfortunately for him, some of the younger members refused to accept his pacifist route and struck out on raids and ambushes into the surrounding territory.

Fight for Freedom?

On November 27, 1868, Custer led the 7th Calvary on an attack against Chief Black Kettle. The troops killed around 100 Native Americans, including Black Kettle and his wife, who were shot in the back. The military hailed the raid as a victory that pushed the Native Indians back to the reservation lands set aside for them. As we examined the exhibits at Fort Hays, it made us wonder how we would have fared in the same scenario. This is one of those difficult visits that call for us to lay aside any prejudices we have learned in life and concentrate on the morality of the situation. Would we have been able to maintain a passive approach in the face of so much aggression?

History Unfolds

We have said many times, that travel is our form of continued education. Visiting sites such as Fort Hays help us develop a better understanding not only of the past but how the actions of our forefathers played into the development of the current world in which we live. By the time we completed our tour of the fort, we had a better understanding of what took place during the period of taming the plains. As a wise man once said, “You have to know the past to be able to learn from it.” These historical experiences help us stitch together a picture of what took place out on the western frontier.

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We want to thank Hays CVB and Gella’s Diner for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Impressive Resume

If you travel back to the start of this century, you will find that many cities were starting to see the potential of redevelopment. While the suburban sprawl was still in full swing, many saw the dire need to recapture what was missing from their city’s core. For generations, locals had shopped, dined, and fellowshipped in the downtown areas. The big question for many was “What can be done to spark an interest in our downtown?”. What many cities discovered was that if you build it, they will come. In Hays, it took a small group of investors that put a serious effort into revitalization. The formation of the Liberty Group offered a vehicle that would drive this change.

Local Style

After a few years, there had already accomplished the renovations on a couple of dozen buildings. Stepping back to look at their work, they realized that there needed to be a flagship restaurant that would anchor the Chestnut Street District. Drawing people into the downtown would require places for shoppers to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. It was decided that this new eatery would give a nod to the city’s German heritage. The name Gella’s is German for “yes”, and the Lb. in the brewery’s name is short for “liquid bread”. To add an extra layer of historical charm, the interior is decorated with vintage murals painted by Fort Hays State University students. 

Eat, Drink, and Enjoy

Being surrounded by all of this history definitely adds an extra level of special to a meal. While Crystal and I are not big beer drinkers, we did find some cold drafts that we wanted to sample. Gella’s is well-known for its hand-crafted root beer and crème soda. We weren’t about to pass up these frosty beverages. Sure enough, both were delicious and had a nice depth of flavor. My root beer paired well with the Frontier Burger, which starts with a juicy 1/2 lb. patty. Throw on some crispy bacon, crunchy onion rings, and a drizzling of BBQ sauce to make it better than a backyard barbecue. Their crispy Sweet Potato Fries were a great match for this hearty entrée.

Colorful Cuisine

Crystal had to go and pick a chicken dish, which I knew she would. When I’m reviewing a menu and see a dish with avocado or pesto, I can bet she will order it. Sure enough, the Grilled Pesto Chicken Breast was right at the top of the entrée list. They start with a boneless breast that has been grilled to smoky perfection. Then they slather it with a generous helping of homemade pesto. The dish comes with sides of roasted new red potatoes and sautéed vegetables. She ensured me that the entire meal was delectable.

Beefy Entrees

Janet, who had been filling us in on the behind the scenes in Hays, had her own favorite dishes at Gella’s. As our server was taking our order, I heard her choose the Beef Stroganoff.  It is rare that my mind is swayed, once I have chosen my dish. This was one of those rare occasions, and I could picture the silky sauce drizzled over the egg noodles. Oh well, I would stand by my decision and just relish in the opportunity to have more dishes in this article. Once we began eating, it was obvious that Janet had the inside scoop. Her dish was constructed with loads of beef and mushrooms, which are braised with an Oatmeal Stout made in-house. I cataloged this dish for the next time we are in Hays. Kansas.

Sweet Endings

As though we hadn’t eaten enough food already, our server came by to remind us of the desserts at Gella’s. I am never one to stand in the way of sampling more flavors from a menu, so I twisted my tablemates’ arms to grab a couple of dishes to sample. Between the three of us, we figured we could polish off two selections. One of them had to be the German Chocolate Cheesecake, which is a sinfully decadent dessert. The German chocolate frosting is packed full of pecans and coconut. The second pick was French Toast Brûlée, which is soaked in vanilla custard and flash-fried to perfection. A sweet syrup and caramel sauce takes this dish over the top. Yes, we were able to finish them.

Gella’s does Hays Right

This is one of those times that we are thankful we took our selfies before dining. By the time we finished our evening, it was nearly closing time. Our conversation with Janet had covered so many topics in and out of Hays. These are some of our favorite times when we visit a new destination. This chance to eat, drink, and enjoy the company of another gives us lots of insight into the community we are visiting. We learned about the ups and downs that the city has experienced and how the progress of moving it forward is working. This common thread is shared in cities and towns all across the nation, as each strives to provide its citizens with the best that they can do. It makes us realize that no matter where you travel, it is all about the people who call the city home.

The post Eat, Drink, and Enjoy – Gella’s Diner appeared first on Our Changing Life.

We want to thank Visit Hays and Katie Annett for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

The Early Days of Hays

The original Hays City was built along the path of the railroad. In June of 1867, the Army had moved Fort Hays 15 miles to be closer to the spot that the railroad crossed a tributary of the Smoky Hill River. While just a mile down the road sat the booming town of Rome, the railroad’s decision to build a depot in Hays City gave them a nod to succeed. When a cholera epidemic struck Rome, most of the citizens and businesses relocated to the neighboring town. As a supply point for travelers heading west, Hays City quickly grew into a frontier town of questionable reputation. The early days of Hays saw some notable residents including Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok. Hays City was even home to the first Boot Hill, which was in service five years before Dodge City.

Supplying the Citizenry

Stepping into the Younger Harness Shop, we had a chance to see some of the tools of the trade. Next to the blacksmith, the harness shop was high on the “must-have” list for any growing pioneer town. Whether you were needing harnesses, yokes, saddles, or shoes, this is where you went. We are sure that this place was swamped with business when the cowboys rode into town for supplies. The Ellis County Historical Museum has a nice collection of the items that would have been commonplace in the late 1800s through the early 1900s. We were surprised to see an example of a fringed harness, which is sometimes called a “fly net”.  These were used to help keep insects from pestering horses, yet you will rarely find them on display.

Early Emigrants

During the early days of Hays City, it became the county seat, and soon the rough and tumble character calmed down. By the late 1870s, a new crop of emigrants began arriving. Volga Germans, from Russia, found the land suitable for the types of crops they had grown in their homeland. The museum has a replica home that would have been the style used by German Russian families. Being from a wheat-growing belt, it was an obvious choice to raise crops of their winter wheat. By the late 1880s, Bukovina Germans also began arriving in Hays City.  The growing town became a cultural center for German culture and was renamed Hays in 1895.

Life in One Room

Many of our historical visits take us to museums and not actual homesteads. Seeing the inside of the German house made us realize how much times have changed. The one-room structure would have held a growing pioneer family and certainly become cramped over time. I guess a newlywed couple would have found it to be more than enough, but given the larger families of that period, it would certainly have been more of a challenge in later life. Even though this was a recreation, the Ellis County Historical Society had done a good job of filling it with artifacts that were appropriate to the time period.

Close Quarters

Looking around the room, I started thinking about how it must have been to live in the early days of Hays. Some of the stark realities began sinking in that I had not thought of before this visit. In my youth, I had visited my grandparent’s farm, where the use of an outhouse was expected. The thought of how you handle this situation during a bitterly cold winter day had never crossed my mind. Seeing the chamber pot in the corner of the room definitely was enlightening. This must have been quite a shock, especially in the case of newlyweds.

Moving Hays Forward

Now that we had a solid understanding of the early days of Hays, Katie had one more surprise for us. The Ellis County Historical Society teamed up with the Hays Firemen’s Relief Association to create the Fire Department Museum. Inside this structure, we spotted a variety of firefighting tools and assorted apparatus. They also have a pair of classic fire engines including this 1936 Ford. This was a nice addition to our tour and a great way to wrap it all up. We thanked Katie for taking the time to show us around and headed off with a better understanding of how Hays got its start.

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We want to thank Visit Hays and Pheasant Run for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Family is Key

Have you ever visited a restaurant that made you feel like one of the locals? Pheasant Run Pancake House is one of those types of places. From the moment we walked through the door, we were treated like family. Of course, that is probably because family comes first at this restaurant. After all, the staff is one big family that has been satisfying the hunger of locals and travelers alike for many years. Being close to the interstate brings them a wide range of diners, but they try to treat them all like long-time customers.

Local Life

Even though the pandemic has created the need for buffering space between guests, that hasn’t isolated the locals. During our visit, the conversations still occurred between tables, even if it did require a little extra volume to cover the distances. We enjoyed hearing the back-and-forth banter that comes with comradery. It was obvious that these diners were regulars, but even though we were travelers, they included us in the conversations. We were truly feeling like locals.

Family Friendly Feasting

The menu at Pheasant Run is filled with hearty dishes designed to fuel a day of work or play. For us, there is a fuzzy line that separates the two. It’s hard to call this work when we are having so much fun. We still needed the fuel and of course some hot coffee. I chose to go with The Uplander, which features two eggs, crispy bacon, hash browns, and a choice of toast or pancakes. The menu mentioned The Dixie Special, which is their homemade biscuits and gravy, so I asked for a half version just to check it out. This meal really hit the spot, especially on this chilly morning.

Sweetening the Deal

Crystal decided to follow suit and also ordered The Uplander. Of course, she had to put her own twist on it, so she chose sausage patties and pancakes. The pancakes can be made with a variety of flavors packed inside, so she picked blueberries. Having the ability to make these kinds of choices adds to the family-friendly feasting options at Pheasant Run. With all of our plates laid out before us and the photos completed, it was time to dig in. Since we had so much variety on the table, we were both sharing our bounty and sampling a bit of everything.

Chasing the Chill

Our visit to Pheasant Run was a great start to what could have been a gloomy day. The hot coffee, delicious meals, and lively conversations had perked us up. Now we were ready to head out and conquer the world or at least explore more of Hays, Kansas. These are the types of dining experiences that remind us it’s not about the frills, as much as it is the dedicated restaurant workers, that make it more than a meal. We hope that you will add the Pheasant Run Pancake House to your explorer list.

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We want to thank Visit Hays and the Sternberg Museum for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Famous Fishes

We picked the Sternberg Museum since it is known worldwide for its collection of fossils. With over 23,000 cataloged artifacts, it would take a lot of time to explore it all. Knowing the liquified history of Kansas, we expected to find a lot of fish fossils. We learned that over the eons, the water level would rise and fall, which allowed the inhabitants to vary. During the wetter periods, the inland sea would average around 600 feet deep. You can imagine the abundance of fish that would have been present. In fact, one of the most popular fossils at the museum is the “Fish-Within-A-Fish”.

Multi-Faceted Exhibits

After checking out the world-famous fossil, it was time to look into their traveling exhibit. When doing my research, I somehow had missed that Sternberg has rotating exhibits. We have found that many museums include this feature. It’s a great way to expand our education about a subject we were not expecting. Another example was finding sunken Egyptian artifacts during a stop at the St. Louis Art Museum. It goes to show that you never know what you will find when you enter a museum.

Temporary Visitors

Having panes of glass between us and these vipers allowed for some up-close inspections. The Sternberg Museum not only showcased a lot of snakes, but they included a plethora of educational information. Various placards explained how these cold-blooded creatures play their part in the ecosystem. A billboard showed us how we measured up to the king of the crop. Clearly, there are some monsters out there in the world.

Welcome to Base Camp

With that interesting addition tucked away in our memories, it was time for the main feature. The big draw for us was diving into life in dinosaur days in what would become Kansas. The entrance to this portion of the exhibits begins at the base camp. Here we would find artifacts that hint at how researchers live while in the field. A diorama of a scientist uncovering a fish fossil leads the way into the underwater adventure.

Diving Into the Kansas Sea

The tunnel entrance propelled us back in time to the Cretaceous Period. We found ourselves immersed in the underwater world that occupied the region 100 million years ago. Huge sea creatures swim by with ferocious teeth and obvious predator features. The seabed is covered with giant clams, ammonites, and crinoids. Mosasaurs, sharks, and plesiosaurs are the kings of these waters and spend their days in pursuit of fish.

Hitting the Kansas Beaches

Not all of the land is covered and along the eastern edge, the land rises above the water. Rocky beaches offer temporary relief from the ever-present threats of swimming predators. Of course, there were also threats from above. Huge Pterosaurs glided across the skies looking for food below. Plant eating dinosaurs with bony armor grazed along the swampy grounds that bordered the inland sea. Some plant-eaters, like the duck-billed Claosaurus, were as comfortable on land as they were in the water.

Toothy Residents

In the fossil gallery, we had seen evidence of these “toothy” creatures that prowled the waters. It was easy to imagine the peril that awaited the unwary fishes swimming along in schools. The Plesiosaur was certainly high on the list of predators. Its long neck and broad body made it a formidable opponent underwater. I can picture it darting through a school of fish, waving its toothy jaws side-to-side, as it captured unexpecting prey. It certainly makes you glad that these creatures are extinct.

Life in Dinosaur Days

We had moved beyond the underwater exhibit and back onto dry land. As we made our way into the heart of the dome, we met our old friend, Claosaurus. Here was a young one grazing on plants, under the watchful eye of his parent. We stayed on the path, as Pterosaurs cruised overhead. While the various fossils had given us a glimpse into life in dinosaur days, these full-scale models offered another perspective. Seeing the creatures like this helped us picture the amount of vegetation needed to keep them all fed.

Keeping a Low Profile

On the other side of the treeline, danger lurked in the form of a T-Rex. We could be sure that this little dinosaur would have been the perfect snack size for such an imposing predator. It was likely that these plant-eaters stayed close to the shoreline, so a quick escape could be made into the water. Of course, then they would have been potential victims of the underwater flesh-eaters. We made our way around the path to get a closer look at the T-Rex on the hunt. Knowing that the Sternberg Museum works to keep the models in scale helped us imagine the amazing arsenal of teeth that this creature brought to bear on its victims.

Taking It All In

In the end, we decided that the process of the hunter and hunted was one that has been repeated for millions of years. It was just reassuring to know that we would not be the next in line to wind up in a T-rex stomach. We returned to our explorations and turned our attention back to the wide range of fossils that are on display. While I could spend days examining all of the artifacts, our time had run out for this visit. More of Hays, Kansas was waiting to be discovered. We thanked the staff for their hospitality and left knowing more about the Kansas sea than we had ever expected to learn.

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