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Join us in 2024 as we explore Alma, Kansas!
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TOUR OUR
TRAIL DAYS
HISTORIC SITES
We are where Flint Hills' art, food, culture, & history come alive!
Ken & Shirley McClintock welcome you to Trail Days Cafe & Museum!
Take a peek at our Café & Museum...
The Parlor
Sit in the Parlor, by the fireplace, order a "home cooked" meal, that will take you back in time. While waiting, read the "History Happened Here" on your table. Look at the artifacts and read the materials. Next, look at our showcase displays. Find one of the hidden secrets of this stone -- buried for years, under layers of paint, is a Native American Pictograph.
The Pictograph
Louis Burns, a respected historian, Osage Nation tribal member, and author of 10 books on the Osage Tribe, has authenticated this pictograph.
Louis identified this as a memorial to a fallen warrior. We believe that warrior to be George Alexander who was listed as living in this house in 1861 with the Rawlinsons. George and the Rawlinsons' son, James, joined the 8th Infantry and left in September 1861 to fight in the Civil War. James survived the war, but George died on November 4, 1862 and is buried in Danville, Kentucky. George had a wife according to the census of 1860. She was not named. It is suspected that she was a member of the Kanza Tribe. Upon hearing of his death, she and her relatives, may have come here to cut a memorial to him in this Walnut wood door casing. Louis recognized that this was done by a woman or for a woman.
Generally, the Kanza did not put these secret images in public view -- so the question arises as to why they would cut a memorial here. Look closely and in the walnut knot you can see a distinctive face. Walnut has growth circles around its knots and so this face in the middle of these powerful looking circles creates (to the Native Americans) the face of Waconda or God.
Louis said that the general message of the image would be __ "Waconda is ever watchful over them and that He made the tree in which He placed it and they (the Native Americans) should respect Him and His creation." This image would make this a sacred site, under the watchful eye of Waconda (God). The Kanza may have felt safe to place the pictograph here for that reason.
Now, turn towards the stairway and face the stone wall.
Louis identified this as a memorial to a fallen warrior. We believe that warrior to be George Alexander who was listed as living in this house in 1861 with the Rawlinsons. George and the Rawlinsons' son, James, joined the 8th Infantry and left in September 1861 to fight in the Civil War. James survived the war, but George died on November 4, 1862 and is buried in Danville, Kentucky. George had a wife according to the census of 1860. She was not named. It is suspected that she was a member of the Kanza Tribe. Upon hearing of his death, she and her relatives, may have come here to cut a memorial to him in this Walnut wood door casing. Louis recognized that this was done by a woman or for a woman.
Generally, the Kanza did not put these secret images in public view -- so the question arises as to why they would cut a memorial here. Look closely and in the walnut knot you can see a distinctive face. Walnut has growth circles around its knots and so this face in the middle of these powerful looking circles creates (to the Native Americans) the face of Waconda or God.
Louis said that the general message of the image would be __ "Waconda is ever watchful over them and that He made the tree in which He placed it and they (the Native Americans) should respect Him and His creation." This image would make this a sacred site, under the watchful eye of Waconda (God). The Kanza may have felt safe to place the pictograph here for that reason.
Now, turn towards the stairway and face the stone wall.
The Stone Wall
Here we see another hidden secret!
This stone wall was under a porch when the house was first constructed. Ten years later the Terwilligers converted the porch into an addition to the south. This wall was plastered over and protected inside the house.
During the renovation work, the plaster was removed, and this outside stone wall was revealed in pristine, original condition, showing the lines formed on the wall to assist the water to run off more readily. A kernel of corn fell out -- showing a component of the mortar. Another amazing historical and cultural find!
Now, turn around and go up the steps.
This stone wall was under a porch when the house was first constructed. Ten years later the Terwilligers converted the porch into an addition to the south. This wall was plastered over and protected inside the house.
During the renovation work, the plaster was removed, and this outside stone wall was revealed in pristine, original condition, showing the lines formed on the wall to assist the water to run off more readily. A kernel of corn fell out -- showing a component of the mortar. Another amazing historical and cultural find!
Now, turn around and go up the steps.
Let's explore the rest of our historic sites...
The Trail Days Arts & History Center
Here, we feature the art, history, and culture of the Flint Hills.
Welcome to the Trail Days Arts & History Center!
This concludes our tour!
We say goodbye and hope
you will come to see us again soon!
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