Kansas Day is celebrated annually on January 29th. The day commemorates the 1861 admission of Kansas as the 34th state to join the United States of America. This holiday represents a major milestone in Kansas history. Let’s explore some key details about the state along with famous Kansas natives and landmarks for an entertaining Kansas Day quiz.
When Kansas Became a State
Kansas entered the union on January 29, 1861, after years of bloody skirmishes between anti-slavery and pro-slavery settlers. The KS-NE Act which was passed in 1854 first opened Kansas territory to settlement. This permitted the doctrine of popular sovereignty to determine if Kansas would allow or outlaw slavery. Skirmishes between opposing groups led Kansas to earn the ominous nicknames “Bleeding Kansas” and “the Border War.”
Kansas applied for statehood in December 1859 and officially joined America as a free state in 1861 right before the start of the Civil War. The intervening 30 days between application and admission represents the shortest wait for any state entering the union. The long delay owed to violent instability within the territory.
Let’s see how much you know about other Kansas state history firsts by answering a few quiz questions:
Who was Kansas’s first governor elected?
- William Medill
- Charles Robinson
- John Geary
- Samuel Crawford
What was the first capital of Kansas?
- Olathe
- Lawrence
- Topeka
- Wichita
What year did Kansas become the first state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages?
- 1860
- 1870
- 1880
- 1890
Famous People From Kansas
Kansas has nurtured many outstanding figures across domains like journalism, film, politics, aviation, and sports/music. Take a shot at guessing these famous Kansas natives:
Name the acclaimed jazz pianist and bandleader born in Kansas?
- Duke Ellington
- Count Basie
- Thelonious Monk
- Charlie Parker
Which Kansas-born aviator gained fame for her pioneering achievements after disappearing during an attempted flight around the world in 1937?
- Harriet Quimby
- Bessie Coleman
- Amelia Earhart
- Jackie Cochran
Which world-famous photojournalist credited with capturing the human cost of war was born in Kansas?
- Dorothea Lange
- Margaret Bourke-White
- Diane Arbus
- Elizabeth “Lee” Miller
What famous dancer, actor, singer, and civil rights activist hailing from Kansas enthralled audiences with his energetic stage performances?
- Sidney Poitier
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Gregory Hines
- Gregory Peck
Iconic Kansas Places
From sprawling prairies to cosmopolitan cities, the diverse Kansas landscape offers many memorable destinations. Test your familiarity with some top sites to see in the state:
Known as the “Air Capital of the World,” which Kansas City served as the home base of aircraft manufacturers like Beech, Cessna, Boeing, and Learjet?
- Dodge City
- Wichita
- Kansas City
- Topeka
Nicknamed “The Little Apple” after NYC’s moniker “The Big Apple,” which lively Kansas college town boasts a vibrant music scene?
- Lawrence
- Hutchinson
- Manhattan
- Salina
Which history and art museum housed in a marble palace with ornate domes and fountains offers the premier destination for culture vultures visiting Kansas?
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Kansas Museum of History
- Museum of World Treasures
Known as the “Grandest Small Town in Kansas,” which Victorian-era railroad boomtown invites visitors to step back into the late 1800s Wild West era?
- Abilene
- Dodge City
- Ellsworth
- Leavenworth
Conclusion
We covered notable dates related to Kansas statehood, famous state natives across fields like journalism, politics and the arts as well as iconic places to see across the Sunflower State. From the Oregon Trail to tornado alley themes, Kansas history and culture offer plenty of fodder for exploration on Kansas Day and beyond.
This Kansas Day quiz only scratches the surface of the state’s storied past and promising future. Exploring the capital city of Topeka provides more glimpses into what makes the state great. Here’s hoping you discovered some new favourite sons, daughters and destinations to appreciate from the 34th state admitted to the union. Keep the learning going by planning a trip just down the yellow brick road to visit the glorious Land of Oz!
Table: Kansas Day Quiz Answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who was Kansas’s first governor elected? | Charles Robinson |
| What was the first capital of Kansas? | Topeka |
| What year did Kansas become the first state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages? | 1880 |
| Name the acclaimed jazz pianist and bandleader born in Kansas? | Count Basie |
| Which Kansas-born aviator gained fame for her pioneering achievements after disappearing during an attempted flight around the world in 1937? | Amelia Earhart |
| Which world-famous photojournalist credited with capturing the human cost of war was born in Kansas? | Elizabeth “Lee” Miller |
| What famous dancer, actor, singer, and civil rights activist hailing from Kansas enthralled audiences with his energetic stage performances? | Sammy Davis Jr. |
| Known as the “Air Capital of the World,” Kansas City served as the home base of aircraft manufacturers like Beech, Cessna, Boeing, and Learjet? | Wichita |
| Nicknamed “The Little Apple” after NYC’s moniker “The Big Apple,” which lively Kansas college town boasts a vibrant music scene? | Lawrence |
| Which history and art museum housed in a marble palace with ornate domes and fountains offers the premier destination for culture vultures visiting Kansas? | Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art |
| Known as the “Grandest Small Town in Kansas,” which Victorian-era railroad boomtown invites visitors to step back into the late 1800s Wild West era? | Dodge City |
