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Mennonite Settler statue

Mennonite Settler statue from directly overhead

Mennonite Settler statue is a historic site in Kansas, at a modelled elevation of 433 m. The nearest named place is Newton Atheletic Park, a park 0.1 miles away. Prairie Trail Scenic Byway passes 23 miles off.

The story

The Mennonite Settler is a 17-foot limestone statue in Newton, Kansas, honoring Mennonite farmers and their wheat heritage. The statue was crafted in 1942 by Topeka artist Max Nixon out of native Kansas limestone. It depicts a bearded Mennonite farmer with hat in hand, in an attitude of prayer. The sculpture rests on a mosaic tile base with the inscription "Commemorating entry into Kansas from Russia of Turkey Red Hard Wheat by Mennonites 1874." The statue commemorates the introduction from Russia of Turkey Red hard winter wheat by Mennonite settlers, which helped make Kansas the "breadbasket of America." The statue was jointly financed through a community fundraising drive and a Works Progress Administration (WPA) art project. The statue was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and underwent an extensive three-year restoration that was completed in 2000. The mosaic tile base is about 10 feet (3.0 m) in diameter.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Dates from 1942.

Wikidata Q6817208, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

How to reach it

Coordinates38.04615, -97.35680

Named places within 25 miles

Parks
  • Newton Atheletic Park: 0.1 mi
  • Railroad Park: 0.5 mi
  • Themian Park: 0.6 mi
  • Ash Park: 0.7 mi
  • Military Park: 0.8 mi
Artworks: 26
Museums: 19
Attractions: 11
  • Dyck Arboretum of the Plains: 7.1 mi
  • Cessna Penguin Cove: 22.9 mi
  • Gallery: 23.0 mi
  • Display Gallery: 23.0 mi
  • Rocks Gallery: 23.0 mi
Historic sites: 5
Ghost towns: 3
Nature reserves: 1

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:3419:0719:42
June solstice06:0820:1720:56
September equinox07:1818:5319:28
December solstice07:4316:3317:14

Local time (America/Chicago).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F313545556676817971584434
Precip in0.81.32.42.94.95.04.23.93.02.61.61.2

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Newton, 2 mi away.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

National Register of Historic Places, reference 98000084OpenStreetMapWikidata
  • National Register of Historic Places — Mennonite Settler Statue, reference 98000084, listed 02/26/98.

OpenStreetMap element node/4715412462

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