When learning about Kansas in school, you might not hear too much about all the good we’ve done. Especially after they teach you about Bleeding Kansas. However, what you’re missing is important information about how Kansas helped shape the world as a hole, or at least, the U.S. We wouldn’t be the same without these 11 things.
1. Amelia Earhart
As the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, Amelia made it easier for women to become pilots in a male-dominated field. She advocated for women, and became the first president of the Ninety-Nines, a female pilot organization.
3. Susanna Salter
Susanna Salter was a woman of politics, and became the first female Mayor in the U.S, and one of the first women to hold political office at all. She paved the way for more women in political offices, and advocated for women's rights.
2. President Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower became the 34th president of the United States, coming from Kansas, the 34th state. He served valiantly in the war, and did well as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe.
4. Chrysler
In Wamego, Kansas, a man named Walter Chrysler was born. He'd later meet an executive at General Motors and create a successful car company. He was also Time Magazine's Man Of The Year in 1928
5. Helicopters
William J. Purvis and Charles A. Wilson of Goodland were the inventors of the rotary blade helicopter. They wanted a flying machine that could take off and land vertically. The project was unsuccessful, but without their revolutionary concepts, we wouldn't have the helicopters we use today.
6. Verrückt at Schlitterbahn
Kansas is home to Verrückt, the world's tallest water slide, which is an experience in itself. Sadly, it lived it's last days last year, and will never be used again due to a death on the slide, but they are going to build something in it's place. Perhaps bigger and better? We'll see.
7. Helium
The University of Kansas is credited with the discovery of this fun little gas. They discovered that the gas was everywhere in the Great Plains, and it was later used to fill blimps for WWII.
8. The Red Light District
Dodge City was recorded as the first to use the Red Light disctrict during the 19th-century, which included the Red Light House saloon.
9. White Castle
White Castle got its start here in Kansas, as well as being credited as the country's first fast-food chain. What's unfortunate is that we can't seem to get one back where it started. We miss White Castle!
10. Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, the loosely italian restaurant created in 1958 in Wichita. As of 2015, there were 13,728 locations worldwide (minus India and China).
11. ICEE
ICEE was created by Omar Knedlik in Coffeyville, during one of our hot summers. He threw bottled sodas in the freezer, hoping to keep them cool for guests, but some turned to slush. Patrons found they liked the slush better than normal fountain drinks, and so Omar got the idea to make a slush machine. Root Beer was the first flavor, and then from his creations, Slurpee and other brands were born.
These are just the famous and more notable inventions. What else do you think Kansas contributes to the world?
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