The Prairie Wanderer

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The Prairie Wanderer

Your guide to uncovering hidden history, local gems & the spirited women who left their mark. Heartland stories. Original photography.

Curated collections of Kansas-made prints & home goods.

10/28/2026

Night two of our haunted history series.

At Concordia’s historic Brown Grand Theatre, some say the final curtain never truly falls. Legend says the spirit of Earl Brown still roams the grand theater, making his presence known through unexplained footsteps, mysterious sounds, and strange occurrences. More than a century after its opening, could the Brown Grand's most devoted patron still be watching from the shadows?

10/28/2026

Good morning from Kansas

Day 3 of sharing the beauty of my home.

📍World's Largest Czech Egg, Wilson, Ellsworth County

Czech Out Wilson

10/27/2026

Haunted History: On a hillside overlooking Hays, Kansas, people have reported a mysterious blue light moving through the darkness. Some say it belongs to a woman who died more than a century ago. A woman whose final wish, according to local lore, was to be buried where she could look out over the land she where she found peace. Today, does her spirit look for the soldiers she once cared for?

Okay, I'm trying something new... I've never done just audio before (think a baby podcast episode).

10/27/2026

Good morning from Kansas.

Day 2 of sharing the beauty of my home.

📍Red Hills, Barber County

(Feel free to share this post)

10/27/2026

Would you like to hear a ghost story? As Halloween approaches, I thought I'd share a haunting tale each night. Give your answer in the comments: YES 👻 or NO 🫣

10/26/2026

Good morning from Kansas

Over on Instagram’s Threads, I’ve started posting a daily photo from Kansas. I’m on Day 43.

It’s my little way to show people the beauty of my (our) home. I’ve thought about doing the same here on FB. Feel free to share them. Let’s change the perception of Kansas.

Yesterday, I shared photos from Fort Leavenworth. Here is another one I captured on Saturday.

📍Fort Leavenworth

10/25/2026

Last night was the perfect evening for a haunted history tour. I left Fort Leavenworth thinking it could compete with Atchison for "most haunted" in Kansas.

Thank you to Fort Leavenworth Spouses' Club - FLSC and the storytellers for putting together an entertaining and educational tour.

Visit Leavenworth KS

10/18/2026

Today we remember Mary Ritchie, who died on October 18, 1880. She and her husband John were abolitionists and came to Topeka in 1855. Their home was a stop on the Underground Railroad, sheltering freedom seekers traveling north.

Mary is buried in Section 18, along with John and many family members.

Today, the Shawnee County Historical Society preserves their home.

10/15/2026

Plans for this weekend? For those in Topeka, or nearby, Friends of the Historic Topeka Cemetery will be hosting our annual haunted history event. Tour Historic Topeka Cemetery hearing stories of spiritualism, haunts, mystery, and tragic events. I'll be sharing one of those tragic events - the ill fated trip taken by the Shull sisters. Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/4439690386311888

10/07/2026

Celebrating the spooky season. Here are 31 spots in Kansas that have legends and ghost stories attached to them. What locations would you add to the list? How many have you been to?

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