Why This Kansas Town Deserves More Attention
When you head to the Smoky Valley in Kansas, you can begin your search for the small town of Lindsborg. This is one of the communities that isn’t widely discussed across the country, but it has a distinct flair and appearance unlike anything you’ll see in this area of the United States. Much of its look and heritage stems from Swedish roots dating back to the mid-1800s, still alive today in events like the Svensk Hyllningsfest and historical landmarks of the town, such as the Lindsborg Old Mill. If there were a town in the Sunflower State deserving more appreciation, there are many reasons it is Lindsborg.
Continuing the Swedish Legacy
While it might seem like a theme, Lindsborg is not a gimmick or a tourist trap—it's a town where nearly a third of the residents have Swedish roots, and where traditions brought here more than 150 years ago are still kept alive, cherished, and celebrated. Street signs are bilingual, Dala horses adorn homes and shops, and Swedish heritage is evident everywhere, from the courses in the local school's classrooms to the dishes served at dinnertime in the residences and restaurants here.
It's all in bloom at Svensk Hyllningsfest, a biennial (in this case, occurring only in odd-numbered years) October festival that celebrates Scandinavian heritage in the town. The main street is lined with folk dancers in period costume. Swedish treats like lingonberry meatballs and ostkaka are prepared in large batches. Craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills like wood carving, weaving, and Dala horse painting. This is a multi-generational family tradition, planned year-round, that serves as the highlight of the fall season.
Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum
Along the outskirts of town, on the Smoky Hill River, is a gorgeously preserved testament to Swedish-American ingenuity: the 1898 Smoky Valley Roller Mill. Part of the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum, the massive building once powered the region's wheat economy and now showcases the machinery of early American industry.
Visitors can tour five floors (including a basement) of restored, operational vintage milling equipment. For a week in May, the facility is even more alive as volunteers help operate the old machinery’s antique parts and bring the mill to life. The surrounding complex contains pioneer cottages, barns, and a restored 1903 schoolhouse, each filled with artifacts and family heirlooms donated by descendants of the pioneers.
Art is the Beating Heart of Lindsborg
The arts have always been uniquely intertwined with the spirit of this small town, whether through performances in the longest-running outdoor theater in Kansas, the Broadway RFD, or the galleries showcasing the creations of the region’s top talents.
Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery
Sandzén, a Swedish-born painter who taught at Bethany College just down the road for over 50 years, is billed as the "American Van Gogh of the Plains." His vivid, post-impressionist Kansas and Rocky Mountain landscapes are a riot of color and energy. The gallery features over 300 of his paintings, prints, and watercolors. But there is no static here—there are student exhibitions, modern art shows, and rotating exhibits alongside the lively year-round arts community that Sandzén's legacy continues to inspire in Lindsborg. It is not just a tourist attraction, but a living part of the town.
Red Barn Studio Museum
The Red Barn Studio was Lester Raymer's home and studio and the residence of his distinctive American folk art. Stepping inside this red barn is to step into a curiosity museum with art: incredibly elaborate toy theatres and gorgeous religious panels hang on the walls. Raymer experimented with dozens of media and styles, incorporating humor, spirituality, and strangeness.
Now used as a working artist studio and museum, the studio offers a glimpse of Raymer's boundless creativity and provides work and gallery space to visiting and local artists. It is quaint, intimate, and very Lindsborg.
Discovering the Prairie Through the Beauty of Lindsborg Nature
Coronado Heights
To the northwest, north of town, Coronado Heights juts out of the plains. This bluff of sandstone, reputed to have been viewed by Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, provides a vista over the surrounding prairie. At its summit stands a stone cabin built by the WPA in 1936, known as "the castle." It's a popular stop for hiking, picnicking, and photography. The landscape is flat and windy, covered with spring wildflowers or golden grasslands in the fall.
Välkommen Trail
The Välkommen Trail is a paved multi-use path that follows a former railroad corridor through Lindsborg. Stretching about three miles, it links key sites in town, such as the Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, Bethany College, and the downtown district. This makes it easy for walkers and cyclists to navigate the town while enjoying the prairie scenery and seeing historical sites up close.
Coffee, Food, and Swedish Shopping
Lindsborg is home to some memorable shops and eateries, including the Blacksmith Coffee Shop & Roastery, a community institution located in a restored blacksmith forge. It serves freshly roasted coffee, lingonberry pastries, and satisfying breakfasts in a bright, rustic atmosphere. Its walls still show signs of its industrial roots, such as original stone walls and iron hooks.
Just a block from the main street is Hemslöjd, a brightly painted store specializing in Swedish imports, especially the namesake Dala horses of Lindsborg. Visitors can observe these wooden symbols of Swedish pride being hand-painted by local artisans inside the store. The store sells linens, kitchenware, and Christmas items imported from Sweden—a perfect place for anyone seeking authentic, meaningful souvenirs.
Why Lindsborg Deserves Your Visit
Lindsborg is not the way it is to attract people, sell t-shirts, or even be a memorable find for unassuming travelers. It has been an authentic community working hard to preserve its Swedish heritage and culture, which has been a staple of the area’s appearance, cuisine, and people since the settlement was first founded in the mid-nineteenth century. Whether you are looking for a unique small town in the Sunflower State or happen across this place in your exploration of Smoky Valley, you are likely never to forget your visit to Lindsborg.
