Cottonwood Connections

One of the key features of the Cottonwood Ranch Historic Site is the beautifully preserved stone buildings. Rowlison goes into great detail why settlers on the Great Plains frequently used stone in construction in the 1800s. This deep look into stone construction also covers how settlers used tools of their time to achieve beautiful & long lasting buildings, a majority of which still stand today!

Along with his roles of curator & archeologist, Don Rowlison is a noted cowboy historian. For years his “Out of the Bedroll program educated groups around Western Kansas about the real lives of these “hired hands on horseback” who became icons of the American West. In this episode Don covers the cowboy way of life & how they affected Kansas, helping turn it into a major player in cattle production

Archeology is the science of studying history and prehistory through the process of excavation and artifacts. Don Rowlison explains the value of archeology in understanding both the prehistory & history of the Great Plains. He is joined by Christine Garst and Tim Weston. Join Don and his friends as we discover the value of learning about the past and the archaeological process.

John Fenton Pratt's, original owner of Cottonwood Ranch, an avid photographer, glass negatives reveal many aspects of life, including the fashion & function of the clothes people wore. Rowlison is joined by Kristin Keith, a historic reenactor, & Marla Day, curator of the Historic Costume & Textile Museum. Don & others dive deeper into the understanding of clothing and fashion of the Great Plains.

Prehistory, history before written record, is vital to understand how the Great Plains settlers started their life in Kansas. Don Rowlision, Rob Thompson and Tod Bevitt explain the process of learning about prehistoric Kansas. Through exploration, recreation, and examination Don and his friends show us how important studying prehistoric Kansas is.

One of the only ways the Great Plains settlers could receive products was through mail order. This process was crucial to serve the growing population of plains settlers. Without this service Western Kansas may not have been settled so quickly. Professor of history, Dr. Leo Oliva joins Don Rowlison to explore the great importance of mail order. Join us as we take this journey together.

A beautifully preserved and restored stone house serves as the centerpiece for the Cottonwood Ranch Historic Site. Since 1985, Don Rowlison has given thousands of tours of the historic structure. In this episode it is our turn to hear the story of the building and furnishing of this home built on the Kansas prairie and lived in by English immigrants in the late 1800s during pioneer settlement.

Don Rowlison and his colleges look at how entrepreneurship helped shape the Great Plains. The idea of entrepreneurship is one that kept the settlers going and they had no other choice. There was nothing in the Great Plains so the settlers had to be resourceful. Also in this episode Don talks to current entrepreneurs that kept their dream alive through hard work and dedication.

Don Rowlison and his colleagues look at how agriculture was important to the settlers of the Great Plains. Inside this episode Don will cover topics of the practices and difficulties the early settlers had while trying to establish good agricultural practices.

Don Rowlison and his colleagues look at how agriculture was important to the settlers of the Great Plains. Inside this episode Don and his friends will look at the actual land that the settlers had to work with. The Great Plains was very different from their homeland so there was a steep learning curve.

The Homestead Act is the reason why the Great Plains were settled. When Lincoln signed this bill into law he set in motion one of the greatest settlement movements in human history. Take a ride with Don and his friends as he takes us through this monumental moment in American history.

Life on the Great Plains was rough, hard, and dangerous. The settlers still found time for entertainment and developing a rich culture of arts. Join Don and his colleagues as he takes a deeper look into the world of art and entertainment on the Great Plains.