Journey 650 feet below the ground into the exotic world of salt mining

One of the most fascinating attractions in Kansas can actually be found under Kansas.

The Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson offers a close-up look at salt mining 650 feet below ground. The salt deposits in the area are among the nation’s largest, and at one time, this “white gold” was being processed at 26 plants in the area. Today, just three salt companies operate in the area, including the Hutchinson Salt Company where the museum is located.

The tour begins with a 90-second elevator ride down into an area where there is no longer active mining taking place. At the bottom, visitors can take The Dark Ride, a tram tour that highlights various features of mining and includes a stop that places guests in total darkness.

Visitors explore all aspects of the salt mining industry and its history on the tour. The museum showcases how rooms are wired with explosives to blast the salt free and how the material is removed from the mine. Visitors also learn about the physical and geological characteristics of the massive salt bed in Kansas.

On the tram tour, visitors can “mine” for salt at the Salt Pile, filling a small bag with rock salt. The salt from Hutchinson Salt Company, which mines about 500,000 tons each year, is not turned into table salt. Rather, it is used for industrial purposes like deicing highways and tanning leather.

The mine also is home to a 38-acre facility run by Under-ground Vaults and Storage (UVS), which stores medical records, corporate documents and film reels, like “Gone with the Wind.” Businesses desire this storage because of its constant temperature and humidity and freedom from natural disasters like tornadoes and floods. A gallery in the museum replicates a UVS storage area.

The museum is located at the corner of Avenue G and Airport Road in Hutchinson. Hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1–5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $14.35 for adults, $12.75 for seniors and AAA members, and $9.05 for children 4–12 and Reno County residents. Children under 4 are not allowed underground. Reservations are recommended. Call (620) 662-1425 for details, or visit www.undergroundmuseum.org.

Discover a trove of treasure at Missouri History Museum

The prospect of treasure has lured hunters to explore the depths of the ocean, to delve into the earth and even to scour attics for family heirlooms, and now, the Missouri History Museum is celebrating the thrill of the chase with a new exhibition.

The museum, located in Forest Park in St. Louis, is presenting “Treasure!” through Jan. 3, an exhibit that explores the science, mythology and technology of hunting and protecting jewels, coins and more. Brimming with artifacts, videos and activities, the exhibit celebrates all forms of treasure and the mystique of uncovering long-lost riches.

Visitors will discover what tools undersea adventurers use to find sunken treasure and what they find. Another section examines buried treasure and how metal detectors can help searchers. Guests also can get a taste of gold fever by panning for precious nuggets like prospectors did in the 1800s.
Popular culture has tapped into the excitement of treasure hunting with novels like “Treasure Island” and films such as “National Treasure.” The exhibit offers a collection of books, movie posters and games that feed our hunger for tales of treasure.

Pirates foster a special fascination, so one section has plunder taken from sunken ships, including flintlock pistols and precious metals. There are also pirate-themed activities, like taking a virtual tour of a ship.

Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and students with a student ID and children older than 13; and free for children 12 and under. AAA members receive a $1 discount. Residents of St. Louis City and County are admitted free on Tuesdays with documentation, like a utility bill, proving their residence.

The museum is located at Lindell and DeBaliviere. Hours are 10 a.m.–8 p.m. on Tuesday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. For details, call (314) 746-4599 or visit www.mohistory.org.

Where the buffalo roam will be home to wintry frontier-era celebration

With buffalo grazing in the background, an early American scene will unfold this winter at Buffalo Run farm in southern Indiana with the sights, sounds and smells of a frontier winter encampment.

The annual Buffalo and Mistletoe event will take place Dec. 12–13 at the farm, located about three miles west of Santa Claus. The farm hosts the free event to celebrate winter, the approaching holidays, the property’s history and the resident buffalo.

Indeed, guests will get a chance to get an up-close view of the buffalo and help a guide feed the herd at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The guide will answer questions about the animals and the 90-acre farm.

Demonstrations of early skills will include spinning, hearth cooking and tomahawk throwing. Visitors can tour the Dennis Hanks School House Cabin and the Legendary Lincoln Cabin, a reconstructed cabin where Abraham Lincoln spent the night in 1830, according to legend.

Also on site is a tepee where Native Americans will talk with visitors about various life skills and crafts their ancestors used to survive and thrive on the frontier.

In the Buffalo Run Grill, you can try a buffalo burger, buffalo chili and elk burgers. The gift shop features hand-made crafts.

Festival hours will be 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Sunday. Buffalo Run is located one mile east of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial on State Route 162. For details, call (812) 937-2799.