Standing at the head of Broadway, this Chase County landmark has been the centerpiece of Cottonwood Falls for over 140 years. The Chase County Courthouse, built of native limestone, has the distinction of being the oldest operating courthouse in Kansas.
   The Chase County Courthouse was designed by one of the leading architects in Kansas, John G. Haskell. Haskell was chosen because of his bold designs already displayed in Lawrence and Topeka. The courthouse, built in a French Renaissance Chateau style, more than fulfilled the town's desires for a striking design. Still garnering much deserved attention today, one can imagine the awe that this three-story building commanded in 1873 when the state was in its infancy.
   Cottonwood Falls, one of the stops along the Flint Hills Scenic Byway, puts on three fun-filled festivals throughout the year. The Prairie Fire Festival, set in April, pays tribute to the ranchers of the Flint Hills and their range management practice of burning the prairie. The blue grass jam session, prairie wildlife presentations and Flint Hills Art Society displays are the highlights of the six day festival. June and September see the Flint Hills Folklife and Broom Weed festivals which demonstrate 1800s skills of basket making, soap making, blacksmithing, carving, and quilting ... plus another good excuse to gather at the courthouse for some foot stompin and heel kickin fun.

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