Beloit, Kansas Attractions
​...Chautauqua Park, St John's Catholic Church, Little Red School and more!

Tourism in the Solomon Valley
​Mitchell County, KS

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Mitchell County Courthouse

• 111 S Hersey
• 785-738-3652

 
The stately Mitchell County Courthouse was built in 1901 from locally quarried limestone. Designed by J.C. Holland, the building demonstrates Romanesque Revival architecture (named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson) and was inspired by the ancient Romans. 

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Still in use today, the structure houses the majority of the County offices.

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St. John’s Catholic Church

• 701 E Court
• 785-738-2851

 
The church was commissioned by Msgr. Michael Heitz and designed by architect Joseph Marshall. St. John’s Church is evidence of the pioneer spirit and determination of the many ethnic groups that built this country.  Visitors are amazed to find such “Old World” architecture and art in the heart of Kansas. 
 
Foundation work began in the fall of 1900 and the cornerstone laying and blessing by Bishop Cunningham was on June 4, 1901.  Completed in 1904, the church was built around the old church in the form of a Latin cross. 
 
The present church is 150 ft. in length, 74 ft. in width at the front entrance; the nave – 66 ft. wide and 62 ft. in length; the transept – 87 ft in length and 34 ft in depth.  The church walls have a thickness of 24 inches.  The two massive towers, 22 ft. by 22 ft., 30 inches in thickness, rising to a height of 100 ft and to 108 ft including the cross surmounting each tower, are familiar landmarks as the traveler approaches Beloit from the South or the East.

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Mitchell County Museum 

• 1915 N. Independence
• 785-738-5355
• Open… Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 10a – 4p
  
  

This Museum has been provided through the interest, goodwill, cooperation, and generous donations of the people of Mitchell County to preserve their "Heritage" for the present and future generations.
 
The museum is a nonprofit organization which has been in existence since the 1880's in some form. The society was reorganized in 1961 & then incorporated on July 9, 1971. It took up residence in the "old Nurse's home" later in that year.
 
Monetary donation to the General Fund supported the expansion project to renovate the old "American Legion" building & to the Farmers Memorial. A significant part of the funding for the Mitchell County Historical Society comes through donations, individual donations for specific displays, grain donations and donations of historical artifacts, pictures & family stories.

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​Little Red School House

• Roadside Park / Highway 9 & 24
• 785-738-5355

 
The Honey Creek School was established in 1874, southeast of Glen Elder.  In about 1942 the original schoolhouse burned to the ground and was rebuilt and had school in it until 1960. 
 
There were three men in Beloit that thought it would be nice for Beloit to have one of these vanishing types of schoolhouses moved to Beloit.  Harold Boettcher, Harold Hill and Maurice McDonald purchased the Honey Creek Schoolhouse and had it moved to its location on Highway 24.  It was painted red and is surrounded by rock posts.  These three men gave it to the city of Beloit and in 1964 it was opened by the Mitchell County Historical Society.