Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Today Ben & I ventured to the Flint Hills about an hour and a half northeast of Wichita. Since we've moved to Kansas I've wanted to go to the Flint Hills, but it wasn't until today that I actually got to go (thanks to Ben). The Preserve was really out in the middle of nowhere off a scenic byway. This Preserve (so the sign says at the preserve) is the only park devoted to the tallgrass prairie land. The James family, who built the house (see picture) out of limestone (where the flint comes from), came to this area in the late 1800s as cattle farmers. Eventually the ranch became this preserve. Ben & I went hiking around the preserve and got to walk with the cattle. The cows were pretty curious about why we were there and one (see picture) even followed us for a little while. Still to this day raising cattle is the main way of life in this part of Kansas.