Cawker City Kansas Historical Attractions
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World's Largest Ball of Twine
  • U.S. Hwy 24
  • 785-781-4470
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.
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World's Largest Ball of Twine
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 inquirie about having a hand in adding to the Ball. Those that do have the right to claim fame for having added to the monstrosity.  *(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.)
 
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Cawker City 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.  ​