Life Enrichment

9 a.m.
Rex Buchanan, former director of the Kansas Geological Survey and author, will present “Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills.” Too often, Kansas history seems to start with Coronado’s trip through the state in 1541. For centuries before European arrival, Native people lived on the plains, and some left behind rock carvings on soft sandstone in the middle of the state. This presentation focuses on these carvings, the people who made them, and what the carvings tell us about those people and their relationship to the land. The presentation also discusses the challenges of dating and interpreting these carvings, the threats posed by erosion and vandalism, and the role of landowners whose property shelters these carvings. “Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.

9:45 a.m. - Break

10 a.m.
Travis Heying — Kansas often gets a bad rap for its lack of breathtaking scenery. Void of oceans or mountains, it’s easy to see why people often rank it at, or near, the bottom of “most scenic states” surveys. But anyone who’s spent enough time in Kansas knows that beauty is there. You just have to know how to look for it. Travis Heying explores how he captures the beauty of this state in photographs.