Spirit Of The Buffalo
We are excited to announce “The Spirit of the Buffalo” outdoor art exhibit for Leavenworth County! The Leavenworth County Historical Society, along with community partners and the Kansas State Tourism office are introducing a long-term exhibit designed to enhance and promote tourism to the county.
A herd of metal buffalo (4’ x 5’ x 28”), hand-crafted in a unique design, will be individually painted in a motif (depicting Historic Leavenworth, the Old West and the State of Kansas) selected from an original art design submitted by local artists. The county-wide exhibit will project a powerful image and a distinct historical identity for Leavenworth County resulting in market differentiation from other tourist attractions in the United States. An added component of the county-wide attraction is a digital learning application allowing visitors the ability to download narratives from their mobile phones. The stories will explore the history and culture of the Kansas Plains Natives and their co-habitation with the buffalo prior to the opening of the Kansas Territory.
Buffalo Locations (Part of the Trail)
Follow the Trail – Discover the Herd in Leavenworth County, Kansas
The “Spirit of the Buffalo” is a community art and history project featuring a collection—or “herd”—of outdoor hand-crafted rustic metal buffalo sculptures placed throughout Leavenworth County. Each sculpture is a unique work of art created by a local artist and represents a blend of the enduring symbol of the buffalo with the artist’s personal style.
The statues celebrate the frontier spirit of the American West and explore the early history of Leavenworth County before Kansas became a territory. The exhibit highlights the time when Plains tribes lived on the prairies of northeast Kansas alongside large buffalo herds. The buffalo was revered as a sacred and life-giving animal symbolizing abundance, generosity, and survival, providing food, shelter, and materials for daily life.
Locations 1–10
1. Taming the West
Teresa Tomrell
Sponsor: J.F. Denney Family
Home2 Suites by Hilton, 3rd & Delaware St., Downtown Leavenworth
2. Tapestry of Kansas History
Sara Filbert
Sponsor: Leavenworth Main Street
Leavenworth Main Street Parking Lot, 4th & Cherokee St., Leavenworth
3. Twin Souls
Tara Crow
Sponsor: Don Brown
Kansas Country Store, 728 Cherokee St., Leavenworth
4. Lewis & Clark
Nancy Clark Bauder
Sponsor: Jason Wiggin
Suburban Restaurant, 402 S. 20th St., Leavenworth
5. Ad Astra per Aspera
Becky Gordon
Sponsor: Midwest Horizons Marketing
Carroll Mansion Museum, 1128 Fifth Ave., Leavenworth
6. Native Kansas Botanicals
Kristina Simon
Sponsor: Dr. Paul & Doris Hund
Heartland Dental, 3507 S. 4th St., Leavenworth
7. Artistic License
University of St. Mary Art Class of Tom Wallestad
Sponsor: University of St. Mary
USM Campus, 4100 S. 4th St., Leavenworth
8. Living Legends
Tara Crow
Sponsor: Mark & Michelle Schuler
Culver’s, 600 Eisenhower Rd., Leavenworth
9. Kansas Railroads / Fallen Flags
Everett Ward
Sponsor: Kirby Family
Lansing City Hall, 800 1st Terrace, Lansing
10. Honoring Delaware / Lenape
Keyta Kelly & Rachel Kelly
Sponsor: Elkins Family
Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, 201 W. Washington St., Tonganoxie
Locations 11–20
11. Life on the River
Teresa Tomrell
Sponsor: Michael & Mary Nachbar
The Depot, 781 Shawnee St., Leavenworth
12. Rustic Matriarch of the Herd
Original Sculpture
Sponsor: Exchange Bank & Trust
701 Shawnee St., Leavenworth
13. In Honor of the Military
Carmen Almlie
Sponsor: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Reynaldo Rivera
LV Local Hotel, 600 Shawnee St., Leavenworth
14. Sacred Spirits
Tara Crow
Sponsor: Ken & Karlie Romine
Ten Penny Restaurant, 529 Cherokee St., Leavenworth
15. Trails
Alan Collins
Sponsor: Rapid Response Charities
Ten Penny Restaurant, 529 Cherokee St., Leavenworth
16. CW Parker
Nancy Bauder
Sponsor: Anonymous
CW Parker Carousel Museum, 320 S. Esplanade St., Leavenworth
17. Celebrating the Elders: Those Who Walked the Earth
Emilio Gutierrez
Sponsor: Cindy & Ed Pruitt
Swann Painting, 410 S. 7th St., Leavenworth
18. Women of the West
Teresa Tomrell
Sponsor: St. John Hospital
3500 S. 4th St., Leavenworth
19. Kansas Flag
Becky Gordon
Sponsor: Zaxby’s LV
4925 S. 4th St., Leavenworth
20. The Kanza Sun
Tara Crow
Sponsor: Gina Montalbano & Bryan Zesiger
Z&M Vineyard, 24305 Loring Rd., Lawrence
Credits & Notes
- Spirit of the Buffalo logos courtesy of Joan Lampkin (LCHS) and Tom Wallestad (University of St. Mary).
- The project was made possible through support from Kansas Department of Tourism, the Home Depot Foundation, local artists, and community sponsors.
- Please respect the sculptures and do not touch the buffalo statues.
- Sponsors, LCHS, and the City of Leavenworth are not responsible for accidents or injuries.