Kansas Day
Celebrated almost exclusively in the state of Kansas, Kansas Day is a holiday that is celebrated every year on January 29th. The purpose of this holiday is to commemorate the 1861 admission of Kansas into the United States. It is also a holiday that allows citizens of Kansas to rejoice and take pride in the state in which they live. This holiday has been celebrated since the 19th century.
United States (Observance)History of Kansas Day
Kansas Day can be traced back to 1877 when it was first celebrated by about 20 children in Paola, Kansas. These students were studying the history of the United States on January 8, 1877, when they began learning about the Battle of New Orleans. This sparked an intense interest in the children and made them feel very patriotic about their state.
So the afternoon of January 29, 1877, was set aside so the class could spend the day learning about Kansas; everything from its history to its geography and its natural resources. The teacher at the time was Alexander LeGrande Copley, and he took the celebration of this holiday with him when he became superintendent of the schools in Wichita, Kansas.
Eventually, news of Kansas Day spread throughout the state, and both students and their families began celebrating the holiday.
Facts About Kansas
- Kansas was admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861.
- Dodge City, Kansas, is the windiest city in the U.S.
- Cawker City has a ball of twine that weighs more than 16,760 pounds.
- Kansan Hattie McDaniel was the first black woman to win an Academy Award.
- The 34th President of the U.S., Dwight D. Eisenhower, was from Abilene, Kansas.
- At one time, it was illegal to serve ice cream on cherry pie in this state.
- Buster Keaton was from Kansas.
- Kansas has the largest population of prairie chickens in North America.
- This state is named The Sunflower State.
- This state’s nicknames include The Free State & The Wheat State.
- It’s illegal to hunt whales in Kansas.
- It’s illegal to shoot rabbits from motorboats in this state.
- This state has the second most instances of tornadoes in the U.S.
- Helium was discovered at the University of Kansas in 1905.
- There are over 528 caves in the state.
- 88% of the land in Kansas is farmland.
Celebrating Kansas Day
While this holiday is a statewide observance, it is not a public holiday. As a result, most government buildings, schools, banks, and businesses are open on this day. However, that doesn’t mean the holiday passes unnoticed. Many people celebrate this holiday. Kansans across the state visit historic sites and museums to learn about the history of Kansas. People are also encouraged to learn about the history of the state. In schools, students usually spend the day learning Kansas history or attending Kansas-related events.
United States (Observance)
