What lies beneath the surface is intriguing because discovering it requires curiosity. Each of these Kansas destinations reveals fascinating spaces, from hidden tunnels to speakeasies.
Will you check off each one from your travel bucket list?
Kansas Underground: Fascinating Spaces Beneath the Surface
Take a Tour
Ellinwood Tunnels
The best part about saying “yes!” to adventure is discovering a destination you didn’t know existed. That was my experience after visiting Ellinwood, Kansas, to tour the town’s underground tunnels and the Historic Wolf Hotel and Events Center.
Established by German immigrants in 1870 along the Santa Fe Trail, the town was designed to include two blocks of main-street stores, with stairs leading underground to additional retail spaces, saloons, brothels, a bathhouse, and Jung’s Barbershop.
Ellinwood’s Underground Tunnels allow visitors to walk some of the original passageways while tour guides share early prohibition and entrepreneurship stories in the area.
I was enthralled by the antique relics of the past found deep within the tunnels. The town’s early residents used the tunnels for refuge during WWI, possibly to bootleg alcohol during Prohibition, and to support cowboys and families traveling through the area by providing services.
The tunnels lead to The Underground Saloon/Bar, a transformed venue that was once Ellinwood’s first public library from 1940 to 1960.
Dalton Gang Hideout
Located in Meade, the Dalton Gang Hideout features a tunnel beneath a home that the gang used to move in and out undetected by law enforcement.
Visitors can walk the 95-foot-long tunnel year-round. Other attractions include Eva Dalton’s furnished house, Old Town gunfighter reenactments, barn, and Heritage House.
PRO TIP: Visit the Dalton Graves in Coffeyville at the Elmwood Cemetery. The graves of Bob Dalton, Grat Dalton, and Bill Powers lie in rest near a marker. The Dalton Defenders Museum features authentic artifacts from the shoot-out and rooms filled with collected local memorabilia.
Strataca Underground Salt Museum
In Hutchinson, descend via an elevator, aka “The Hoist,” 650 feet to explore the Strataca Underground Salt Museum, an active salt mine operating since the 1920s.
I’m not a fan of dark, enclosed spaces, but I donned a hard hat and made the elevator journey with other passengers below the Earth’s surface.
What awaited was worth it.
To my surprise, the mine was spacious and brightly lit.
The guided tours are well worth the admission fee for learning about geology and the mining industry. You sit comfortably in a tram car while learning from your guide as you meander through the mine.
Also home to the Underground Vaults & Storage, a guided tour reveals official movie props and historical artifacts that will impress.
Sip a Cocktail in a Basement
John Brown’s Underground
John Brown’s Underground in Lawrence transports you to a surreal environment with low lighting, mood music, and a menu that reads like an excerpt from someone’s diary. A friendly server helped me choose a cocktail recipe from a long list of options.
Since it was the eve of the anniversary of Quantrill’s Raid, I chose the John Brown made from whiskey, rum, demerara sugar, and bitters. It was spirit-forward but smooth.
Employees are passionate about the tavern’s mission to create a welcoming atmosphere, best exemplified by John Brown’s chair. Ask your server about the chair’s history.
The Principal’s Office
In Topeka, Salut Wine and Cocktail Lounge features a basement bar, The Principal’s Office. Unsure how to enter the speakeasy? Look for the back door marked with a paddle.
I’ve yet to visit, but I’m told that guests should be prepared to answer “what naughty thing you did to deserve this” before entering the low-lit lounge.
Somerset Schoolhouse
Imagine a renovated one-room schoolhouse converted into a home goods retail shop, complete with a speakeasy in the basement.
Built in 1920, Somerset Schoolhouse in Paola is more than just a place to visit for a shopping trip; it’s a destination for leisure travelers who appreciate a touch of elegance set in a casual atmosphere.
If you appreciate rye whiskey, order Prom Night prepared with blackberry and sage syrup. It pairs well with one of their shareable appetizers, such as the Lunch Lady Favorite, a toasted baguette served with herb olive oil and fig balsamic.
The speakeasy’s television shows silent black-and-white movies while jazz music plays from the speakers.
Oliver’s Lounge
Oliver’s Lounge in Wichita is an upscale cocktail bar serving high-end cocktails. Regulars know the best seating is in the basement, where guests can lounge and savor a seasonally-inspired or classic libation.
You won’t find televisions airing a sports event or families gathering with kids. The lower-level lounge attracts small groupings of adults or couples on dates.
Dockum
Sip cocktails in secret at Dockum, a speakeasy that’s easy to find if you follow the pharmacy logo signs to the Ambassador Hotel’s basement.
Every cocktail I’ve ordered at Dockum was made with house-made bitters and fresh-squeezed juice. Enjoy jazz music from a leather couch or bar table. If you can’t decide which drink to order, I recommend The Smoking Gun if you appreciate whiskey.
PRO TIP: Most speakeasies require reservations due to limited seating, so I recommend calling ahead.
Are you ready to dig deeper into more adventures while on the road? You’ll enjoy reading Lawrence, Kansas: A Historical Tour, and when visiting Dockum, be sure to use 5 Places to Visit in Wichita Before You Die as a travel guide.
Eventually, the invention of the telegraph ended the need for the Pony Express, which lasted 18 months from April 1860 to October 1861.
Entering the 
Once operated as a four-story luxury hotel opened in 1858, John Patee’s staff hosted travelers in 140 guest rooms. People from all over the world knew of the hotel within three years of its construction.
The museum offers numerous photo opportunities. Visitors can take photos of authentic saddles or peek through photo cutout stations.
Life-size faux horses are also positioned in the barn’s stables, making the Moment in Time exhibit a picture-worthy experience for all ages.
PRO TIP: Snap a photo of the 
As he led me from artifact stations to dioramas depicting Native American tribes who once resided in the area, I became increasingly impressed with the museum exhibits. 
Hands-on activity stations, designed for visiting children and groups of touring school kids, include animal pelts, sun-bleached bones, and cowboy apparel. Massive stagecoaches and farm equipment sit nearby, but once you venture into the original barn, it becomes clear how primitive life on The Great Plains was in the late 1800s.
PRO TIP: Mail a letter from the 
A relic of the Wild West, the museum covers the story of the town’s role as a stop on the Pony Express mail delivery trail in the late 1800s. Seneca claims the Smith Hotel was the first home station.
As you walk upon the building’s original wood floors, explore a makeshift saloon, replica schoolroom, and original artifacts for the Smith Hotel, a refuge for riders needing a break.
Don’t leave without learning the fascinating history of westbound rider, Johnny Frey. I appreciated reading about how local women fed him baked goods. Since he was in a hurry, they added a hole to each one so he could hold the food easily while riding his horse. Perhaps it was the invention of the donut?
The museum is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, Tuesday through Saturdays. To guaranteed a tour, call (785) 294-6655 to schedule an appointment.
If it wasn’t for the brave riders who delivered mail in all types of weather around the clock for the Pony Express, society wouldn’t have experienced new innovations to replace it including faster communication via the telegraph. Today, we send messages in seconds via text and email.
