CONCORDIA — Drive East on I-70 to Salina, and go north on US-81, the scenery is gently rolling hills and not much else for the next 45 minutes until finally, you reach Concordia, KS. Be sure to bring your walking shoes, because there is so much to see and do downtown, and it is such an attractive little town, it’s hard to not want to walk just one more block. Here, we highlight the must-see’s, and all are just within a few blocks of each other.

Steeped in history
The town is the only one that requires drivers to slow down and stop as they cruise North to I-80 in Nebraska. This was actually done by design when Sen. Frank Carlson pushed for the highway during the Eisenhower era when the nation’s highway system was under construction. Concordia was Carlson’s boyhood home, and his house is featured in a collection of the Historic Homes of Concordia, available at the Cloud County Museum Annex. The Annex, located at the intersection of US-81 and 6th St., is hard to miss. It is home to a distinctive brick mural that incorporates the history of the area from pioneer days to the 21st Century.
A trip to Concordia isn’t complete without a visit to the National Orphan Train Complex, located near the railroad that more than a century ago brought orphaned youngsters from New York City to the rural west where families would come and choose from the boys and girls assembled on platforms at various stops and adopt them on the spot. Their stories, their accomplishments, and details of their lives can be found at the complex, which has become a popular destination for historians and genealogists, the orphans and their descendants.
The National Orphan Train Complex celebrated on May 24, 2017, when the Orphan Train Movement was officially recognized as a national event. Sen. Pat Roberts recognized the movement in the Congressional Record:
“I would like to acknowledge an important event in our history, the Orphan Train Movement. This movement is not only extremely important to Kansas; it also placed approximately 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children in homes across the United States. The National Orphan Train Complex, which is headquartered in our very own Concordia, KS—also known as Orphan Train Town—continues to tell stories of children who were impacted by these orphan trains.”
Throughout the city of Concordia, visitors will find bronze statues depicting orphans who traveled to the area and found new homes. The 11th and 12th statues were unveiled at the Nazareth Motherhouse in June. They represented two Orphan Train Riders who became Sisters of St. Joseph. The Complex hosts many events from live music to lectures throughout the year, so be certain to check the website, http://orphantraindepot.org/ before you go.

Theatrical experiences
Other attractions in Concordia include several places to eat along Concordia’s Main Street, as well as a diverse selection of shops and boutiques. In 2005, the city and Chamber of Commerce partnered to provide low-interest loans to commercial building owners who opted to restore theirs to the Victorian-era appearance that once defined the town. The result was an attractive main shopping district that is a pleasure to stroll.
In 2014, a vacant lot at the corner of Broadway and 6th was transformed into The Broadway Plaza.
The Broadway Plaza is the City of Concordia’s premier outdoor public event space. Home to 100-150 events each year, the Broadway Plaza serves as a gateway to Concordia’s downtown shopping, dining and entertainment district.
The site includes an incredible public performance stage, an enormous digital television/movie screen, scores of unique outdoor dining spots, a fully-automated, zero-depth splash pad. The second Thursday of each month, May through September, starting at 7 p.m., family movies are scheduled. Other events and information can be found aT https://www.broadwayplazaconcordia.com/.
The Brown Grand Theatre, located at 310 W. 6th St., is listed on the National Historic Register, and was the inspiration of Colonel Napoleon Bonaparte Brown. He served as a major in the Union Army from January 1864 to January 1865. He later went on to find success in business, became a philanthropist, and in 1900 moved his family to Concordia. In 1905, he announced he would build a fine opera house, and the formal opening of the Brown Grand Theatre took place September 17, 1907. The production, “The Vanderbilt Cup,” was a comedy about auto racing, a timely topic at the time. Restoration of the dilapidated theater began in 1980, and in 1987 it was complete. Today visitors can tour the theatre by appointment. Live performances are booked throughout the year, and is also available for weddings. The Brown Grand Theatre is on facebook.

Staycation possibilities
This only skims the surface of the things there are to see and do in North Central Kansas, and if you visit long with the friendly people in Concordia, you may decide a day isn’t enough time to satisfy your interest. There is lodging available at the Super 8 and the Holiday Inn Express in Concordia, or if you prefer something different, a new bed and breakfast opened in early June near Miltonvale, a short (30 minute) drive southeast near the little town of Miltonvale. The Barn at Bear Bottoms, 505 Meridian Rd., Miltonvale, sits near a relaxing pond, and offers comfortable lodging in a relaxing atmosphere. The Warkentines, who own and also reside on the grounds, envisioned a place where people could get a way for a “staycation” to relax and unwind. So far, you won’t find them on any major travel site. The grounds include an attractive pond near the lodging quarters, where visitors can take part in catch-and-release fishing or take a spin on the paddleboats. Other water features and gardens can be found throughout the grounds. Message them on facebook or email them at bearbottoms@twinvalley.net or 785-376-9784.
Regardless of when you go, your trip will be the best if you first contact the Cloud County Tourism office, (785) 243-4303, located inside The Cloud County Museum Annex. They are experts on what to do and see in the time you have available, active in the community so they know what events are happening, and truly want you to want to return again.

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All photos are courtesy

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The Exchange Bank 55 Club from Grand Island, Neb., visited the Cloud County Museum Annex brick wall mural on May 18, 2017. Thousands stop there every year to look and touch history from pioneer days to the 21st century.

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The Brown Grand Theatre is listed on the National Historic Register, and is a must-see when visiting Concordia.

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Concordia’s Broadway Plaza is the result of a vacant lot transformation that happened in 2014. The Plaza is home to many civic events in the city now, providing a much needed public space in the heart of the city’s shopping district.

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The Barn at Bear Bottoms, a short half-hour drive south of Concordia, provides a restful lodging option to visitors interested in more than just a hotel stay.