The road in downtown Hays City that is now known as Main Street was originally called Chestnut Street in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The word "City" was officially dropped from the name Hays City in 1885 and by 1930, the streets were renamed at the request of the postal service for a more orderly naming scheme. Chestnut Street was renamed "Main Street". The historic markers, buildings and streets in the Chestnut Street District provide visitors the opportunity to step back in time and relive the history of downtown Hays.

Today the Chestnut Street District is a great place to meet with friends, dine, shop and enjoy entertainment opportunities. Downtown Hays is undergoing a process of restoration driven by the desire to preserve the history and community pride while creating the excitement of the old fashioned main street. There are over 80 different businesses located in the Chestnut Street District including specialty stores, retail shops, and unique restaurants. To view the Downtown Hays brochure, copy and paste the file below into your web browser. http://issuu.com/newspublishing/docs/historicdowntownhays