Attractions
ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
A community calendar of events can be viewed on the Coffey County Chamber website
BUSINESSES – SHOPPING AND BROWSING
More than 200 businesses, several of which are home-based, are located within Burlington’s city limits.
COFFEY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND VISITOR’S CENTER (CABOOSE) – The Chamber has moved from the red Sante Fe Caboose at the intersection of Highway 75 and Neosho Street in downtown Burlington. Their new location is 305A Neosho Street, just east of the stop lights. Come in and receive an introduction to this history-filled area.
Email: executivedirector@coffeycountychamber.com
ARTS – (PERFORMING AND VISUAL) – The Coffey County Council for the Arts is an organization which sponsors performing and visual art exhibits. Working closely with the education departments, the Council has many plans for the future to expand art appreciation for children and adults. (Phone: 620-364-2440)
ARTS – COFFEY COUNTY THEATER BOARD – The Coffey County Theater Board endeavors to expand cultural experiences by attracting various performing and visual entertainment to Burlington. (620-364-8652)
BUILDINGS (HISTORICAL) – Burlington has several buildings which were built during the 1800s and early 1900s.
BURLINGTON CARNEGIE FREE LIBARARY, 201 N. 3rd Street, was built in 1912 and dedicated on April 29, 1913. The library was placed on the National Register for its historical association with the Carnegie Corporation Library Program and for its architectural significance as a new building type.
BURLINGTON UNITED STATES POST OFFICE – This building, located at 107 South Fourth Street, was placed on the National Historical Register on October 17, 1989 for its association with the Treasury Department’s Section Program and for the artistic significance of the sculpture it contains. The sculpture “Boy and Colt” was carved by Arizona artist Robert Kittredge in 1942. The National Register has identified post offices containing Section artwork as being exceptionally significant if they retain integrity from their period of significance. [Phone (620)364-2215]
HISTORICAL SOCIETY – (Coffey County Historical Society and Museum)
Information on the Coffey County Historical Society and Museum can be found under the topic “MUSEUM” below. (Phone: (620)364-2653; Fax: (620)-364-8933.)
LIBRARY – COFFEY COUNTY LIBRARY
410 Juniatta St.; Burlington, KS 66839/Phone: (620)364-5333
The Coffey County Library, located in Burlington, was constructed in 1994 and has approximately 14,490 square feet. The library carries over 20, 000 books and periodical titles. Other non-book materials available include audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs & Bluray. The library staff provides Story Times , Summer Reading Programs, craft and art programs. and educational programs for all ages. The library staff provides outreach and literacy programs throughout Burlington by taking storytimes to daycares and preschools, providing books to the jail and nursing homes and taking craft and education programs out into our community. The Coffey County Library of Burlington is a member of the Southeast Kansas Library System. Regional services provided include the Interlibrary Library Loan Program, talking books and a public meeting room. The Coffey County Library System includes branches located in Gridley, Lebo, LeRoy, New Strawn and Waverly.
LIBRARY – Genealogy Research Library – See the following information listed under “MUSEUM”.
MUSEUM (Coffey County Historical Society and Museum)
Director, 1101 Neosho St.; Burlington, KS 66839
Tel: (620)364-2653 or 1-888-877-2653
Hours: Weekdays: 10:00 – 4:00
Closed most National Holidays
Free Admission, but monetary donations are greatly appreciated
Museum Overview:
Experience Coffey County, Kansas, and her citizens through the years from fossils from the Paleozoic Era when Kansas was covered by a shallow sea to photos of the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant that went into operation in 1985. The museum has over 14,000 sq. ft. of display space. Some of the notable features includes one of the largest antique doll collections in Kansas, a restored 1896 one-room schoolhouse, a restored 1895 country church, a gun collection, Native American arrowhead collection, a Conestoga Wagon and mammoth bones. The museum also boasts an extensive Genealogy Library that is also available for research. The main focus of the Genealogy Library is on Coffey County genealogical items.
Guided school tours are available by reservations in advance.
Museum- Bethel Church The 1895 country church was once located west of Burlington and was moved to the Coffey County Museum’s grounds where it was restored. This quaint church can be reserved for weddings and other events.
Museum- Genealogy Library An abundance of genealogical resources for Coffey County can be found here including, but not limited to all county newspapers on microfilm, yearbooks from county schools, census records, organized newspaper clippings of obits, marriages, and births, some cemetery information, and so much more!
Museum- School House The District 44 Rural Dale one room school house was once located southeast of Lebo before it was moved to the Coffey County Museum’s grounds. This 1896 school house features a blackboard, piano, wood stove, and desks.
WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION (WCNOC), also known as Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) is located approximately four miles northeast of Burlington, the facility occupies about 10,500 acres including a 5,000 acre cooling reservoir. The reservoir is filled with record breaking game fish. Wolf Creek Lake (later renamed “Coffey County Lake”) was opened to the public in the Fall of 1996. Wolf Creek Environment Education Area was opened in 1994. (For more information see topics above.)
The plant, which began commercial operation on September 3, 1985, serves some 700,000 retail customers in Kansas and Missouri, and set a U.S. record for its first, second and fifth years of power production. Group tours of WCGS, by reservation only, are welcome. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact:
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation
Communications Department
P.O. Box 411
Burlington, KS 66839
Phone:(620)364-4484
WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, located only five miles north of Burlington offers free group tours (by reservation only). Contact: P.O. Box 411; Burlington, KS 66839; Phone:(620)364-8831, extension 4484.
ATTRACTIONS OUTSIDE BURLINGTON CITY LIMITS:
BODEN ICE COMPANY – Located at 125 North Ogden; Lebo, Kansas 66857 [Phone:(620)256-6655], Boden Ice Company is the third largest producer of packaged ice. Tours by appointment are welcome.
BUILDINGS – (HISTORICAL)
100-Year Old Jail – Come and see a bit of history in Lebo, Kansas.
Bank – The First National Bank of Waverly, chartered in 1902, can be seen in Waverly.
Bank – Visit the old Farmers State Bank in Aliceville.
Dunnel House – The first house built in Waverly was built by H P. Dunnel in Waverly, Kansas in 1878.
Foster Building – This building in Waverly was built in 1902.
Jail (Old One-Room Jail) – Visit this site in the City of LeRoy.
Jail (Old Stone Jail) – Visit this site in the City of Waverly.
Miller House – This house, located in Lebo, Kansas, was built in 1899.
Park – Visit LeRoy to see its city park with its Band Stand.
Powel Home and Florence Miller Home – Located in Lebo 66856/ Phone:(620)256-6622, both of these old Victorian homes are registered historical sites. Tours are welcome.