Great Plains Studies, Center for
Date of this Version
Winter 1998
Citation
Great Plains Quarterly Vol. 18, No. 1, Winter 1998, pp. 80-81.
Abstract
A Guide to Kansas Architecture by David H. Sachs and George Ehrlich selects representative examples of the built environment and landscape forms in each of Kansas's one hundred and five counties. This first-ever comprehensive guide book offers architectural examples in both the urban and rural areas of the state. Using a broad-based definition of architecture, the authors have included not only well-known buildings, but also vernacular elements such as bridges, dams, power stations, cemeteries, and fence posts. Such a selection provides a reasonable overview of what one might expect to see while traveling in Kansas. Both historical and architectural significance are considered. Thus, Condon National Bank in Coffeyville is as notable for the Dalton gang shootout as for its "interestingly ornamented" facades. The book provides a balanced guide of the entire state from the masterfully built barns of Patrick Campbell in Kiowa County to the King Louis West Bowling Alley, "vaguely reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West complex," in Overland Park. Sachs and Ehrlich have given preference to those buildings which can be easily viewed and are also in the best condition.
Included in the guide is a concise history of Kansas which acquaints the reader with major forces which have shaped the state from early settlements to modern times. Also included is an overview of the architecture and stylistic trends that have evolved. In order to catalogue all of the examples presented, the authors developed a numerical system of labeling each county, building, and figure. All coding elements for a region (the state is divided into seven regions) are defined in the region's directory. Several maps also help readers locate many of the buildings. The system allows easy cross-referencing between examples and photographs. A short introduction to each region provides significant facts unique to each area.
The heart of the guide is composed of brief descriptions of each example selected, often accompanied by a small photograph or map location. Sufficient descriptive background is given to allow readers to quickly determine the building type and its importance in a few succinct sentences. The Guide is an excellent foundation book for those interested in Kansas architecture and is more than helpful as an overview of the building types which have evolved and are available to see in the Sunflower State.
Comments
Copyright 1998 by the Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln