Recently Marcia and I were invited to Marion, Kansas to give a speech on our new Mediation Program to the local Chamber of Commerce. Here are a few pictures I snapped along the way...
Abandoned One Room School House near Marion
I couldn't resist stopping and taking a quick picture of this old stone schoolhouse (completewith two stone outhouses) on our trip to Marion.
Marion, Kansas, is named after Marion, Ohio, which was named after Frances Marion,
a Revolutionary War Hero.
Marcia was very excited when she saw the local "Duckwalls" Store. Duckwalls is an old fashioned five and dime. The Chamber of Commerce told us they have tour buses come to town to visit Duckwalls and the town's other famous sites.
The town is famous for these rhino's found all over town. The cement rhino's advertise one of the town's local festival's "Chingawassa Days". Chingawassa was an Osage Indian Chief who's name means "handsome bird". Chingawassa signed several treaties in the early 1880's and is supposedly buried near a local spring. The festival honors his memory. We were told by a member of the Chamber that the first organizer of the festival loved rhinos and apparently thought they would be the perfect way to honor the old chief. Each rhino is decorated, similar to the cows on the plaza a few years ago. The rhinos above are dressed as Dorothy and Toto.
There are many beautiful homes in Marion.
I like this house. It looks like someones Grandma lives here.
This fountain was constructed in 1884 and is still operating in "Central Park".
Marcia having fun in downtown Marion with unidentified friend. What happens in Marion, stays in Marion.
The speech went very well. I would love to go back to Marion when I have more time to look around. Though the population of Marion is only about 2,100, the city is extremely well kept and has an active downtown filled with cute antique shops. We were in a hurry to get back to Topeka due to the threat of strong storms.
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