Fourth of July in Wamego

  

I celebrated the Fourth of July in Wamego, Kansas.

I watched a parade, listened to a live band, and watched a truly impressive fireworks display.

I made three videos using photos and footage I recorded during my trip.

The first video features the band Switch in Time, which performed a cover of "Saturday in the Park" during the Wamego celebration. The song was originally released by the rock band Chicago in 1972. 

The video also includes photos and video I recorded during the parade that took place earlier that evening. 

 

 

The second video features the top-notch fireworks display from the celebration. 

(The video contains intense flashing lights, so be careful if you have photo-sensitive epilepsy.)

 

 

The third video features various works of art from the Yellow Brick Road and several exhibits from Oz Museum, both of which are located in Wamego.

The video works best when played alongside Judy Garland’s performance of Over the Rainbow, which YouTube’s copyright protection system wouldn’t allow me to include. 

 

 

 

 

Local History

During my trip, I also took photos of two pieces of local history in Wamego City Park.  

One monument honors the military service members from Pottawatomie County who served in the First World War.  

According to its inscription, the women of Pottawatomie County dedicated the monument on Nov. 12, 1923. 

 

 

 

 

The Old Dutch Mill was originally built by a Dutch immigrant in 1879, twelve miles north of Wamego. The mill was used to grind grain into flour and cornmeal.

In 1925, the mill was moved to Wamego. Each stone was taken down, numbered and rebuilt, exactly like the original. The mill is 25 feet in diameter and 40 feet high.

Today, the mill stands as a monument to Kansas pioneers. 

 

 

A bust of Ceres, the Roman Goddess of Grain, is located on the mill above a window.