Olathe Kansas Celebrates 150th Birthday with Cowboy Boot Sculptures
Olathe Kansas is celebrating it's 150th Birthday (1857 to 2007) by featuring twelve, six-foot tall fiberglass boots through out the Olathe Kansas area. See list below for all the locations. To view all the boot sculptures and a map of the locations, go to this link.
The theme the city of Olathe provides is, "Welcome Home, Cowboy Boots!"
Olathe Kansas is an ideal location for this cowboy boot display, the first true cowboy boot was made by C.H. Hyer, an Olathe bootmaker, back in the 1880's. This makes Olathe the birthplace of the cowboy boot.
Olathe Kansas is also the historical location of the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails. About 780 miles or 1,260 kilometers long, the Santa Fe Trail (later became known as the Mountain Route) runs across the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. William Becknell is credited with opening the Santa Fe Trail. In 1822, Becknell led five men from Franklin, Missouri, to Santa Fe. After this journey, Franklin became the starting point of the Santa Fe Trail. In 1828, a flood destroyed the town of Franklin, and Independence, Missouri, became the starting point of the Santa Fe Trail.
The Oregon Trail runs from east to west between Missouri and Astoria, Oregon. The Oregon Trail was used to travel from the East to the Oregon country. The Oregon Trail was started long before Europeans and Americans explored the Pacific Northwest. For hundreds of years, Indians created footpaths to cross mountains and follow rivers. The European and American explorers connected the different paths to create the 2,000 mile Oregon Trail. It took about six months to travel from Missouri to Oregon. The Oregon Trail follows the North Platte River from Nebraska into Wyoming, and it continues along the Snake and Columbia Rivers.
Anyone heading west passed by on the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails. So how fitting to have this birthplace of the cowboy boot and the innovation and creativity of it in public art displayed in our home town!
The twelve public art sculptures are on exhibit in Olathe landscapes and were designed and created by local artists. They are in the public view with the intent to enjoy and interact with. The artists were encouraged to be unique and inspired by the cultural influences and history of Olathe. The artists were allowed their own interpretation of the boot, just keep in mind the "Welcome Home, Cowboy Boots!" theme. Funding was provided by individuals and corporate sponsorships.
The Cowboy boot sculptures will be on display until November 1, 2007 at these locations:
| Boot | Sponsor | Location |
| (1) Fluttering Along the Santa Fe | Farmers Insurance | 17000 W. 119th Street |
| (2) Hyer-KSD Connection | O'Donnell & Sons | KSD, 450 E. Park Street |
| (3) City of Governors | City of Olathe | 100 W. Santa Fe |
| (4) Mahaffie Farmstead | City of Olathe | City Hall - Lobby |
| (5) The Sole of Downtown | The Olathe News | 514 S. Kansas Ave |
| (6) Read Any Good Boots Lately? | Comcast | SE corner of Park & Chestnut |
| (7) Olathe - Through the Years | Olathe Medical Center | 20333 W. 151st Street |
| (8) Day Dreamin in Dad's Boots | Mid-America Nazarene University | Front of the Cook Center |
| (9) Proud Past | Security Savings | 15670 W. 135th Street |
| (10) Hyer Spread Eagle Boot | Hyer Family | 425 N. Rawhide Road |
| (11) Early Snow | First National Bank of Olathe | 444 E. Santa Fe |
| (12) The Bumble B. Boot | Garmin (GPS Systems) | NW corner of 151st & Ridgeview |
Can you find all of them? The Hunt is On!
Again, to view all the boot sculptures and a map of the locations, go to this link.
David L. Britt, MBA
Olathe, Kansas
David L. Britt Real Estate
Heritage Real Estate
The Heritage Real Estate Team
Olathe Neighbors 
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