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Great Bend, Kansas

The L. E. "Gus" and Eva Shafer Memorial Art Gallery has been referred to as the "Gem of the Campus" at Barton County Community College. The Shafer Art Gallery houses a collection of intricate Western-theme bronze sculptures by internationally prominent Gus Shafer who grew up near Great Bend. The Gallery has 7,900 square feet for exhibits displaying a permanent collection of more than 600 works along with various other traveling exhibits including some from the Smithsonian.

The Gallery's roots date back to 1981, when Mrs. Faerie Denman of Great Bend donated the extensive 507-piece art collection that she and her husband Cedric, had aquired over the years. The collection, valued at more than $200,000, demanded proper storage and the means by which Barton could share the artwork with the community. Now numbering more than 700 pieces, the Permanent Art Collection includes 23 of Shafer's bronzes and more than 100 works by Great Bend native Charles B. Rogers. The collection also contains masterpieces by such artistic giants as Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, Audubon, as well as many others.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Holiday Trail of Lights

Every year visitors from all over the Midwest hit the trail to Great Bend. Our holiday light displays are among the best in the nation. In fact, the trail is a recipient of the American Bus Association's Top 100 Events in North America for the year 2000

Great Bend, KS Tours

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge

There are 650 bird species in the United States, 417 in Kansas, and 320 in Cheyenne Bottoms! Besides birds, there are 23 species of mammals 19 species of reptiles and nine species of amphibians.

Great Bend, KS Wildlife Refuges

Kansas Oil & Gas Hall Of Fame And Museum

The Museum was founded in 1990 by a group interested in preserving the history of the oil and gas industry.

Great Bend, KS Museums

The Great Bend Expo Complex

The Expo Complex is the ideal location for a variety of events. The Expo complex consists of nearly 100,000 square feet of indoor space in three buildings and over 900,000 square feet of outside paved exhibit space. There are also electrical services available to all outside spaces.

Great Bend, KS Civic Centers


Things to do near Great Bend, KS

Fishing

At present the lake is going to be restocked in early 2014 by the state since it was totally dry in 2013. Check with the...