The Museum at Prairiefire—or MAP, as the powers that be call it—is a stunner of a building, inside and out. The real showstopper is the glass: massive windows that sparkle outside and give off a warm, glowing vibe inside.
A little display explained that they use “dichroic technology,” the same thing NASA uses to protect astronauts. Basically, vaporized metals are baked onto the glass. Think astronaut helmet visor—that cool golden sheen? Yep, that’s dichroic.
Inside, the museum has a mix of small but fun exhibits. There’s Kansas’ natural history, daily life in space (including the all-important “how do you use the restroom up there” section), and even a tidbit about John Glenn proving humans could eat in zero gravity by slurping applesauce. Another room features a giant mural of the planets painted to scale, which is humbling and kind of cool to stand in front of.
A few dinosaur fossils remind you that Kansas used to be way wilder back in the “old days.”
The Discovery Center is loaded with hands-on activities for kids—paleontology puzzles, history games, and plenty of chances to touch and tinker. There’s even a section highlighting Kansas’ animal celebrities, like the state amphibian (the Tiger Barred Salamander) and the state reptile (the flashy little ornate box turtle).
Overall, the building is jaw-dropping, and while some of the exhibits felt more “bite-sized” than blockbuster, there’s exciting news on the horizon: the National College Baseball Hall of Fame will soon be opening a huge museum inside. With its stunning architecture and new additions, MAP is shaping up to be a real home run.
The Nerman Museum is hosting an exhibit called “A Match Made in Heaven” featuring the work of Katherine Bernhardt and Jeremy Scott (my husband, Jeremy’s original middle name was Scott). Scott, a Kansas native, has designed for Moschino, Adidas, and now has his own fashion line. Bernhardt, from St. Louis… nobody’s perfect… is known for her pop culture-inspired paintings. This is the first time their work has been showcased together, and wow… it’s a ride.
The exhibit kicks off with an entire wall of shoes from Scott’s Adidas days (at least, I’m assuming… Adidas never looked like this when I was growing up). These aren’t just shoes, they’re conversation starters. Pink poodles with laces, Chester Cheetah high-tops, gleaming golden teddy bear sneakers, and a rainbow of other “wait, did I just see that?” designs. Just past the shoes are more of Scott’s high-fashion creations, including outfits worn by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. You know, casual stuff.
Bernhardt’s paintings are sprinkled throughout, riffing on Scott’s fashion with her own bold, graffiti-style humor.
One gallery shows three mannequins: two in dresses stitched from Coke can tabs, and the third in a cocktail dress where the Coca-Cola logo has been cheekily replaced with the word “God.” Right beside them? A giant Diet Coke bottle painting that looks like it just wandered out of a street art mural.
Another highlight: two women rocking Bart Simpson sweaters, perfectly posed on either side of… you guessed it… a giant Bart painting.
And then there was the hamburger dress. Yes, a full-on couture burger, complete with a frilly toothpick perched on the model’s head. It was like Elton John raided Mayor McCheese’s closet, and honestly, I was here for it.
My personal favorite? A gown inspired by a TV dinner. The silhouette looked like shiny tin foil, with peas, carrots, and corn on one arm, buttery potatoes on the other, and a train trailing behind that screamed “Salisbury steak.” If you’ve ever wished Swanson would sponsor Paris Fashion Week, this was it.
I won’t spoil every surprise, but this exhibit is clever, colorful, and just plain fun. It’s been so popular that its run was extended… now you can catch it through October 26. If you need a little joy (or a couture cheeseburger) in your life, this is the place to be.
For other great getaway ideas, check out our Road Trips page.