Discover Hays: Natural History and Local History

Hays brings together natural history, regional heritage, and trails through varied landscapes. This gives you several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: the collections at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, historic sites, and nature trails. If you’re looking for hotels in Hays, you can first think about which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay; the places described here offer concrete starting points.

Natural History at the Sternberg Museum

The Sternberg Museum of Natural History currently houses about 3 million specimens in the fields of paleontology, paleobotany, geology, botany, entomology, ichthyology, herpetology, ornithology, and mammalogy. These fields range from Earth’s history and plant science to insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles, birds, and mammals. This breadth offers different perspectives on nature without limiting a visit to a single field. In the Discovery Room, visitors can explore nature interactively. Before your trip, check whether the room is available if you’d like to include this offering in your plans.

Architecture and Local History

A limestone church belonging to the Ellis County Historical Society was built in 1879 as a Presbyterian church and houses the Sternberg Firearms exhibit. It includes items from the 18th to the 20th century, including pieces from the 1940s. The church’s specific construction date and an exhibit spanning several centuries come together in one place.

The museum of the Ellis County Historical Society presents various aspects of historic firefighting in collaboration with the Hays Fireman's Association. The Volga German Haus offers a different cultural focus: it is a replica of a traditional limestone house of the Volga Germans in Ellis County. The replica brings to life the connection between limestone construction and Volga German tradition.

Boot Hill offers a glimpse into Hays City’s early years. In the fall of 1867, it became the city’s first burial ground; the number of graves is estimated at about 79. The statue The Homesteader at Boot Hill commemorates this first cemetery.

Nature Trails and Bison Herd

The nature trails can also be distinguished by their specific features. The Big Creek Nature Trail in Frontier Park follows the banks of Big Creek on a 1.7-mile hike and includes 14 points of interest. Vineyard Park Nature Trail has a 1.1-mile main trail through varied landscapes, from wetlands to prairies; visitors can see wildlife and native plants along the way.

The two distances offer a direct comparison, though the figure for Vineyard Park Nature Trail specifically refers to the main trail. Big Creek Nature Trail is the longer hike described; its defining feature is its route along the creek, while the Vineyard Trail passes through landscapes ranging from wetlands to prairies. So when choosing between the trails, you can consider both their stated lengths and the environments described.

The Hays bison herd was established in Frontier Park in 1953 and gains new calves every year. This gives Hays a dated history as well as a recurring annual feature of the herd.

Discover more destinations: Ellis

For the broader travel overview: Ellis County.