Garnett, Kansas: Statue of Liberty

Unless you have a reason to visit this town I would not drive out of my way to see Lady Liberty here. We also drove around Garnett looking for the wooden sculptures, but all have been removed (including the one at the school mentioned in a previous tip).

The Statue of Liberty is dedicated to the local Boy Scouts.

The little totem pole people are all gone -- it's too bad, because they were cute. I was told that being out in the weather they all fell apart and were then removed. The only wooden statue left is the Teacher and Student carving in front of the Irving Primary School (N38 16.935 W95 14.247). The school takes up the block of S Pine St between E 2nd Ave and E 3rd Ave. The plaque on the statue states: "In Honor of Those Who Light the Lamp of Knowledge and the Students They Inspire."

The Statue of Liberty (N38 16.855 W95 14.521) on the corner of the courthouse sq is still there. The Anderson County Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. If you get the opportunity to see the view from the tower it is awesome. There is a band stand in the square and during the summer the community band plays concerts. There are many Amish in the area, on the south side of the Courthouse sq hitching rails can bee seen in the parking area. There are also hitching rails in front of the Anderson County Hospital which is right on HWY 59 that goes through town. Tuesdays are the best day to find buggies in town as that is the day of barn sale.

Scattered throughout town are numerous statues that have been carved out of tree trunks with a chainsaw. Check out the post office, library, grade school, courthouse, and the Kansas State Bank. Most have been painted. While checking out the statue on the courthouse, take note of the scaled down replica of the Statue of Liberty that sits on the corner of Oak and Fourth. Watch out for the horses and buggies that still frequent town.