Go Underground: Strataca, Kansas' Salt Mines
Kristina Light
Strataca: Kansas' Underground Salt Museum
Kansas is famous for sunflowers, farmland, and, of course, The Wizard of Oz. Did you know, that Kansas is also home to one of the most unusual museums in the world?
Known as one of the eight wonders of Kansas, Strataca (3650 E. Ave. G, Hutchinson, KS, 866.755.3450) is a one-of-a-kind experience through an underground salt mine museum and storage facility for Hollywood memorabilia. Visitors are taken on a 650-foot journey underground to the 68-degree mine where they discover the history of salt mining in Kansas.
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
It is recommended that guests make reservations and arrive fifteen minutes prior to their tour. Walk-ins are available, however, as space on The Shaft is limited you may not be able to get on the next available tour. The lobby of the museum features history, salt samples on display, and artifacts from the film Twister, a Kansas icon.
The journey underground begins with a ride aboard the Shaft, a double-decker “elevator” taking guests on a tour of the mining museum. This is a 90-second elevator ride to the bottom in somewhat cramped quarters and it is not lit (unless someone asks for flashlight lighting). The mine is 650-feet underground, 20-feet deeper than the height of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
Once underground, guests begin their self-guided tour through the galleries, which included beautiful views of the salt mine, exhibits explaining the history of the mine from when it opened in the 1920s, the life of the miner with videos and exhibits telling the story from the miners’ perspectives, and the science of mining. One of our favorite aspects of the museum were the short videos showing the mining process, interviewing miners, and explaining the process of salt mining. The salt mine is still in operation today with much of the salt being used to deice roads in the winter, and some for animal feed.
On the tour, we learned that the mine was discovered in the 1800s when Ben Blanchard was looking for oil. In 1901, Emerson Carey obtained a charter for the Carey Salt company, managing the rock salt mine in Hutchinson. Ninety years later, the mine was sold and became the Hutchinson Salt Company. The history of the mine, under the leadership of Carey Salt Company, and now Hutchinson Salt Company, as well as the progression of mining technology is just part of the history you'll learn on a tour. Additionally, budding geologists will learn about the salt layers, the secret of red salt (more iron), whether you'll find fossils in the mine, and more.
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
The highlight of the museum is the rides: an underground train ride and a dark tram ride. The Salt Mine Express is a 15-minute narrated train ride through the mine. Here, you'll learn what happens when a roof layer collapses, see artifacts in the miners' trash pile, and more.
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
The favorite ride, though, was the Dark Ride, a 30-minute tour through the mine that ended with the opportunity to select a souvenir piece of salt from the mine. We saw items that miners left behind while working, including litter and the underground “restroom,” illustrations of the raw and real side of mining.
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Strataca photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
In addition to its history as a salt mine, the facility is also used to store historic artifacts and documents. With an ideal cool temperature and salt that absorbs moisture and creates a low humidity environment, the mine is used to house movie memorabilia, art artifacts, old computers and newspapers. Artifacts include superhero costumes and artifacts from Hollywood.
This is an educational adventure the entire family enjoyed! Plan to spend at least two hours at this site. There is much to see and do!
What You Need to Know Before You Go:
- Children under the age of 4 are not allowed underground.
- The Train is not handicap accessible. Guests need to walk unassisted approximately 30 feet to board the train. Both the Dark Ride and Salt Safari Shuttle ARE accessible, permitting guests can self transfer to board each ride.
- Each visitor is provided with a hardhat to wear on tour for their safety.
- The mine is 68 degrees year-round, dress appropriately.
- The Museum takes the last tour underground at 3pm because it does take the average guests 2 hours.
- To help preserve the salt floors they do not permit food or drinks down in the salt mine.
Aaron Kahmeyer