Discover Liberal: Aviation, Oz Heritage and Pancake Day

Liberal’s city and cultural history includes themes such as aviation, art, railroads, film connections and local sports traditions. The collection at the Mid-America Air Museum includes more than 100 aircraft and spans nearly a century of aircraft development. Historic aircraft, memorabilia and special exhibits add to this look at aviation.

Art, Museums and City History

Art and local history are also represented in a range of collections. The Baker Arts Center presents new exhibitions; local residents and visitors can also view its permanent collection. The Seward County Coronado Museum is housed in the 1918 Lee-Larrabee family home. The Landmark Center features permanent photo exhibits on the early history of Liberal and Seward County.

The historic Rock Island Depot is dedicated to Seward County’s railroad history: photographs and memorabilia tell the story of the Rock Island Railroad. A small railroad museum is located in the east building, and an outdoor train exhibit is on the grounds. Another local landmark is the Library Book Front, one of the largest book facades of its kind in the United States.

Dorothy’s House and Oz Connections

Dorothy’s House offers a tour of a farmhouse built in 1907. It was restored, moved to the Coronado Museum grounds and furnished to recreate the atmosphere of the farmhouse shown in the film. Land of Oz offers a different perspective: the 5,000-square-foot display features scenes from the film.

The Liberal Community Mural brings together motifs from The Wizard of Oz, aviation history, Pancake Day and the region’s agricultural roots. In Liberal, film connections sit alongside other themes from the city’s and region’s history.

Pancake Day and Baseball

International Pancake Day is a tradition dating back to 1950, featuring a friendly competition between Liberal and Olney, England. The International Pancake Day Hall of Fame houses memorabilia dating back to the first race in 1950. The Pancake Day Racers Mural shows two women in classic racing poses holding pans, with pancakes at the ready.

Baseball also has a long local tradition: the Bee Jays play semi-pro baseball in Liberal, where the tradition dates back to 1955. Thanks to the support of local businesses, the public can attend games for free; however, whether admission is free may depend on sponsorship agreements.

Parks and the Region

Liberal’s public parks offer walking trails, playgrounds, sports fields and a nature area. Arkalon Park is a destination in its own right, located 10 miles outside the city, with fishing ponds. Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport is a full-service general aviation airport. It serves southwestern Kansas, the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, southeastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico.

For the broader travel overview: Seward County.