This exhibit is an alphabetic journey across the Sunflower State, from “aviation” to “Z-Bar Ranch.” The exhibit was developed by Kauffman Museum, Bethel College, North Newton, Kan. and received a 2004 Award for Excellence from the Kansas Museums Association and a 2006 Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History – their highest prize.

“K is for Kansas” uses the letters of the alphabet to illustrate significant features of the natural and cultural history of Kansas. Composed of big alphabet blocks, the exhibit seeks to increase appreciation of the unique people, places, animals, plants and everyday things of Kansas.

Each of the 26 alphabet blocks provides in-depth coverage of a word meaningful to Kansas. These words are represented in various ways from maps and historic photographs to the real object. Preschoolers can play with an ornate box turtle shell or a toy Santa Fe locomotive. Schoolchildren can learn about James Naismith, the inventor of basketball and first University of Kansas basketball coach, by playing a mini-game at the “N” block. Everyone will appreciate the breeze of the Vornado fan invented in Kansas, and a carving of an upland sandpiper by Newton artist Ray Cook.

The exploring theme is also reflected in the exhibit’s design. In-depth information about grasshoppers is hidden until you lift flippers marked ‘pests?’ and ‘partners?’ while the definition and picture of a free state ‘jayhawker’ is revealed only when you push a slider.

Hundreds of words were considered while developing the exhibit. “The exhibit reflects where we are and who we are – an exhibit team of parents, designers, teachers, scientists, artists and carpenters who, after a combined 200 years of living here, have come to love Kansas,” said Kauffman Museum exhibit designer Chuck Regier.

The words selected by the exhibit team include personal favorites that point to the quirky and fun sides of Kansas. For example, Dalton Gang, Dexter helium wells and dogbane are listed as D words. But the exhibit also supports social studies and science standards established by the Kansas Department of Education by including Kansas symbols and words such as dust bowl.

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