Roadside Kansas - 2nd Edition by Rex Buchanan & James R McCauley (Paperback)

About the Book

A guide to the geology, natural resources, and landscapes along nine of the state's major highways. Covering more than 2,600 miles, the volume provides mile-by-mile descriptions of interesting features, both contemporary and historical.

Book Synopsis

Two decades after its first publication, Roadside Kansas remains the premier guide to the geology, natural resources, landmarks, and landscapes along nine of the Sunflower State's major highways. During that span, however, many aspects of the Kansas landscape changed: the growth of some towns and near disappearance of others, the expansion of highways, the development of industry. Even the rocks themselves changed in places as erosion took its relentless toll. More broadly, there have been changes in the science of geology. This new edition reflects all of these changes and thoroughly updates the previous edition in ways that reinforce its preeminent status.

Covering more than 2,600 miles, Buchanan and McCauley organize their book by highway and milepost markers, so that modern-day explorers can follow the road logs easily, learning about the land as they travel through the state. Featuring more than 100 photographs, drawings, and maps, the book also provides deft descriptions of fascinating contemporary and historical features to be seen all across Kansas.

Especially in an economic era that has encouraged all of us to travel closer to home, the new edition is sure to be a hit with families from Kansas and the region who decide to explore and learn more about the state and its distinctive wonders. They'll discover what Buchanan and McCauley have known for a long time: Kansas highways provide much more than passage to Colorado or some other state. They are destinations in their own right.

Published for the Kansas Geological Survey.

Review Quotes

"A book that has great heart and obviously is a work of love. . . . My family and I took the book for a road test and were delighted with the new things we learned about Kansas and Kansans."--Wichita Eagle

"Filled with fascinating detail, Roadside Kansas makes me want to take to the road."--Emporia Gazette

"Of use to every traveler on Kansas highways and a joy to the armchair traveler."--Journal of the West

"A fun way to discover things about the state of Kansas."--Hays News

"Travel the highways and see the terrain formed by elemental forces-limestone cliffs layered by ancient seas, boulders left by glaciers from the ice age, mysterious sink-holes, everlasting wells--all in this fascinating kaleidoscope of geology, history, pioneer tales, amusing anecdotes, and incidental information about the state."--Zula Bennington Greene, columnist "Peggy of the Flint Hills"

"Valuable information . . . well organized . . . and well written."--H. L. James, author of Scenic Trips to the Geologic Past