Mcpherson: Parks, Art and History

When looking for a hotel in Mcpherson, it can help to first sort out the themes of your trip: park activities, art and local history offer different starting points. The specific features of each place make it easier to choose activities: one park offers disc golf and a fishing lagoon, while another has a walking loop or a fitness trail. Galleries, murals and historic buildings also each have their own appeal. This way, you can explore Mcpherson based on the interests that matter to your trip.

Parks and Recreational Activities

Lakeside Park has a disc golf course and a fishing lagoon. These are two distinct recreational features: an activity involving a Frisbee and a body of water for fishing. Tall Grass Park has a one-tenth-mile walking loop, while Wall Park has a fitness trail. These details help you distinguish between the parks based on the activity you’re looking for. A walking loop and a fitness trail offer different ways to spend your free time.

Other recreational destinations have their own highlights, too. Turkey Creek Golf Course has 18 holes. A hike along the Meadowlark Trail offers the chance to spot wildlife and native flowers. McPherson Water Park has a 500-foot lazy river. Together, these details speak to different interests—golf, nature observation and a water attraction—and give you a specific basis for choosing activities for your trip.

Art and History in Mcpherson

Memorial Park honors the veterans of McPherson County. A statue of General James Birdseye McPherson was dedicated there on July 4, 1917. The exact date connects the park to a specific historical event. A train depot stood on the site of Sunflower Triangle Park in the late 19th century. The site’s former use is part of its history, alongside its present-day designation as a park.

McPherson Opera House and the historic district offer different ways to explore local history. The first performance at the Opera House took place in 1889 in an elaborately decorated auditorium. The historic district includes houses and buildings constructed in the late 19th century. While the Opera House is associated with a performance dated to a specific year, several historic buildings shape the district’s character. Founded in 1914, All Schools Day adds a local tradition to these insights.

Friendship Art Gallery on the McPherson College campus serves as a venue for professional and student art exhibitions. Its monthly exhibitions include graphic design, photography, acrylic and watercolor painting, ceramics, sculpture and pencil drawings. Another way to take in art around the city is to see Mcpherson’s murals on a self-guided tour on foot or by car.

A 2021 description gives the second Friday in May as the date for the All Schools Day parade and downtown Mcpherson as its location. Check the dates for the year of your visit if you’d like to plan your trip around the parade.

Discover more destinations: Lindsborg.

View the broader travel guide: Mcpherson County.