Kansas and prairies are almost synonymous.  You ride and ride and every once in a while you see a farmhouse, a barn, a small community but the landscape barely changes in the South West part of the state – prairies and rolling hills.  But then, there’s Monument Rocks.  Also known as the Kansas Pyramids
or Chalk Pyramids, they were the first natural wonder to be inducted as a National Natural Landmark in Kansas by the Department of Interior on October 31, 1968.  These outcroppings are on private land and the owner generously shares these wonders with the public.  The rocks are limestone formations formed 80 million years ago when the area was an inland sea and reach a height of 70 feet.

Not all of the formations have survived to the present.  At one time there was a spire formation called the Sphinx or Old Chief Smoky.  When viewed from the side the formation resembled a human face.  The Sphinx outcropping collapsed in 1986.

“The eye of the needle” or Keyhole Arch is a unique and interesting aspect of the rocks.  Local lore says the arch was started many years ago by someone shooting at the rocks.
Supposedly a bullet penetrated a thin spot in the rock and over the years this small bullet hole grew to be the opening we see today.  According to Barbara Shelton at the Keystone
Gallery, the arch grows wider each year.  It is thought that someday the top part will collapse and there will be two spires.

We stopped first at the Keystone Gallery and visited with Barbara Shelton.  She and her husband Chuck Bonner are fossil hunters and collectors.    They also conduct guided fossil hunts in their area.  The gallery is filled with various fossils found and collected by the pair.  Barbara explained how they collect and preserve fossils.  We recommend a
stop at the gallery before visiting Monument Rocks.

We have read that viewing Monument Rocks is a religious experience, it’s awesome, and wow.  Having seen the outcroppings we realize what a natural wonder it truly is and how we must all respect and protect the beauty of Monument Rocks.