Danville KansasATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Danville, Kansas.
1. NDGA National Glass Museum
HISTORIC GLASS COLLECTIONS
The NDGA National Glass Museum features extensive collections of historic glassware and artifacts. Visitors can explore displays showcasing the evolution of glass production and artistry throughout American history. The museum offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the craftsmanship and design of vintage glass items.
2. Twister The Movie Museum
FILM HISTORY SHOWCASE
Twister The Movie Museum celebrates the filming of the 1996 blockbuster tornado movie in this small town. The museum houses original props, photographs, and memorabilia from the film production that temporarily transformed Wakita. Visitors can learn about both the filmmaking process and the meteorological science behind tornado research that inspired the movie.
3. Glenn Stark Park
UNIQUE CONCRETE SCULPTURES
Glenn Stark Park showcases the concrete sculptures created by local artist and Pearl Harbor survivor Glenn Stark. The park, formerly known as Depot Park, serves as an outdoor gallery for Stark's distinctive artistic works that reflect regional culture and history. The collection honors the legacy of Stark, who passed away in 2014 after a varied career as an artist, Baptist minister, carpenter, bricklayer, and stonemason.
4. Riverside Park
HISTORIC PLAYGROUND ATTRACTIONS
Riverside Park features vintage playground equipment that pays homage to Kansas' western heritage, including cowboy and Native American themed swing sets. The park's classic play structures have entertained generations of visitors, with some pieces remaining in place for over 30 years. The beautiful grounds offer various recreational activities beyond the historic playground equipment that captures the region's cultural history.
5. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
HISTORIC RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church stands as one of the few notable structures in tiny Danville, Kansas. The church represents the religious heritage of the small community established in the 1880s. Its architecture and continued presence reflect the enduring faith traditions in rural Kansas.
6. Copper Club Garage
VINTAGE AUTOMOTIVE SPACE
Copper Club Garage serves as a gathering spot in the small community of Danville. The garage represents the automotive culture important to rural Kansas communities. Its presence contributes to the limited commercial offerings in this tiny town of fewer than 30 residents.
7. Calvary Cemetery
HISTORIC BURIAL GROUNDS
Calvary Cemetery preserves the history and heritage of Danville's earliest settlers and residents. The cemetery offers visitors a glimpse into the community's past through its historic gravestones and monuments. For genealogy enthusiasts and history buffs, the cemetery provides a connection to the region's settlement period dating back to the 1880s.
8. Kingman Historic Train Station
PRESERVED RAILWAY HERITAGE
The Kingman Historic Train Station, built in 1911, stands as a preserved reminder of the region's important railway history. The station has been maintained as a historical landmark that connects visitors to the transportation networks that helped develop the Kansas prairie communities. Its survival represents the architectural and historical significance of railroad infrastructure in small Midwestern towns.
9. Prairie Trails Scenic Byway
RURAL KANSAS LANDSCAPES
The Prairie Trails Scenic Byway offers travelers beautiful vistas of quintessential Kansas prairie landscapes surrounding communities like Danville. The driving route connects small towns while showcasing agricultural heritage, natural beauty, and rural life in the heartland. Seasonal changes transform the experience throughout the year, from wildflower blooms to golden wheat harvests.
10. Kingman County Historical Museum
REGIONAL HERITAGE COLLECTION
Kingman County Historical Museum preserves artifacts, photographs, and documents showcasing the development of communities in the surrounding region. Exhibits highlight pioneer life, agricultural innovation, and the cultural evolution of towns like nearby Danville. The museum serves as an educational resource for understanding the rural Kansas experience from settlement to modern times.
11. Loblolly Acres Farm
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Loblolly Acres Farm welcomes visitors to experience sustainable agricultural practices in the Kansas heartland near Danville. The farm offers seasonal activities including produce picking, farm tours, and educational demonstrations about rural living. Visitors appreciate the connection to local food systems and traditional farming knowledge shared by the proprietors.
12. Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper
WESTERN DINING EXPERIENCE
Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper combines authentic frontier-style dining with live country and western entertainment. Guests enjoy hearty meals reminiscent of cattle drive cooking while being entertained by musicians performing classic western songs. The experience captures the spirit of Kansas cowboy heritage in an immersive dinner theater setting.
13. Harper County Lake
OUTDOOR RECREATION DESTINATION
Harper County Lake offers fishing, boating, and shoreline recreation opportunities for visitors to the region around Danville. The lake serves as a natural oasis for wildlife observation and photography enthusiasts seeking native birds and animals. Seasonal activities include ice fishing in winter and swimming in designated areas during warmer months.
14. Anthony Lake
PEACEFUL FISHING WATERS
Anthony Lake provides anglers with opportunities to catch bass, catfish, and other freshwater species in a tranquil setting. The lake features accessible fishing docks and boat ramps that accommodate various watercraft for fishing and recreation. Surrounding park amenities include picnic areas, walking paths, and natural spaces that attract visitors from smaller towns like Danville.
15. Achenbach Memorial Park
NATURAL PRAIRIE RESERVE
Achenbach Memorial Park preserves native tallgrass prairie ecosystems representative of pre-settlement Kansas landscapes near Danville. The park's hiking trails allow visitors to experience indigenous plant species and observe wildlife in their natural habitat. Educational signage throughout the park helps visitors understand the ecological significance of the diminishing prairie environments once common throughout the region.