Mitchell County Kansas Tourism
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    • Waconda Lake
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Cawker City Kansas Attractions
An image of 3 Cawker City Kansas attractions including pipe organ, largest ball of twine in the world and the old Hespian Library.
Discover Mitchell County.  Discover Your Heritage.
World's Largest Ball of Twine
  • U.S. Hwy 24
  • 785-781-4470
  • Learn More CawkerCityKansas.com
Cawker City’s world famous Ball of Twine was initially created in the hands of local farmer, Frank Stoeber, in 1953. Frank had not been well and decided that rolling his abundance of excess twine, saved from years of feeding his cows bales of hay into a ball, would be good exercise and a way to occupy his time. Thus, began the Ball of Twine.  Throughout the remainder of his life, he continued to add to the ball until it became too large to fit inside his barn, after which he moved the still growing ball to town to be viewed in awe, by everyone.
Today, visitors come from far and wide to have a part in making the Ball of Twine bigger. Year-round, twine (pre-measured and weighed) is provided to those that stop by and inquire about having a hand in adding to the Ball. Those that do have the right to claim fame for having added to the monstrosity.  
Photo of the world's largest ball of twine, located in Cawker City, Kansas.
World's Largest Ball of Twine
*Visitors adding their own twine, yarn or string is prohibited and, if added, is discreetly removed so as to maintain the credibility of the Ball’s weight.
  • Learn More About The Ball of Twine
Photo of the Cawker City musuem, formally the old library.
Cawker City Museum
Learn More About the Museum
Cawker City Museum
  • 721 Lake Drive​
​In 1973, the "old library" was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.  It has the distinction of being the first building built by a Woman's Club in Kansas as well as for its architecture which embodies our pioneer heritage.  Fully remodeled, the museum reopened in 2015.

Permanent displays include:
  • the Geological Specimens Cabinet collected by Dr. George Wilberforce Chapman including a remnant of the "Waconda Meteorite" found in 1871.
  • books that have been in the possession of the public library from its earliest days including a book signed by Susan B. Anthony with an inscription to the Woman's Hesperian Library Club. ​
Oldest Organ in Kansas
  • Methodist Church
  • 608 Lake Drive​
​Built in 1886 by Pilcher's Sons of Louisville, the organ is located in Cawker City's United Methodist Church. Henry, Kentucky built the organ for the congregational church in Kinsley, Kansas. At the time, it was the only organ in Kansas west of Emporia. 

In 1931, the Cawker Methodists bought the organ and placed it in their native limestone church. This second home for the Pilcher organ was built in 1885 and rebuilt in 1911 after a fire practically destroyed the structure. By 1976, structural defects necessitated the razing of the stone church and a new sanctuary was built. At this time, the organ was restored by Reuter Organ Co., Lawrence, Kansas and installed in the new sanctuary.  ​
Oldest Organ in Kansas, Cawker City
​Learn More About the Organ
Contact Us
Lucille Heller, Director
  • 785-564-2118
  • E-Mail MC Tourism
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Site Updated 01-30-23
Website by Limestone9Consulting.com
Majority of Site Photos Courtesy of Greg German
  • Home
    • Site Map
  • Amenities
    • Banquets & Meetings
    • County Churches
    • Groceries, Gas, Supplies
    • Places To Eat
    • Places to Stay
    • RV Hookups
    • Outdoor Guide Services
    • Outdoor Sports & Bait
  • Things To Do
    • Waconda Lake
    • Glen Elder State Park
    • Hunting and Fishing
    • Golf Courses
    • Gym and Wellness Center
    • Hiking and Biking
    • Movies and Bowling
    • Parks and Playgrounds
    • Sport Complexes
    • Swimming
  • Places To See
    • Attractions List
    • Murals of Mitchell County
    • Historical Registry Sites
    • Beloit Kansas
    • Cawker City Kansas
    • Glen Elder Kansas
    • GE State Park
    • Tipton Kansas
    • Other Communities
  • Events
    • Upcoming
    • Events by Month
  • Maps
    • Cemetery Locations
    • Chautauqua Park
    • GE State Park
  • Historical
    • MC Coloring Book
    • Early Day Explorers
    • Kansas Indians
    • Hopewell Church
    • Historical Registry Sites
    • Waconda Education Ctr
    • Waconda Springs
    • Waconda Springs Replica
  • Resources
    • About - MCKS Tourism
    • Locate Mitchell County
    • Helpful Links
    • Site Map