If you happen to be claustrophobic, the Kansas Salt Museum is definitely not for you! We were privileged to be introduced to it after a concert this summer and were given a tour of the museum, which is located 650 feet under Hutchinson, Kansas. The experience started with going down a primitive shaft elevator where it is so dark you can't see an inch in front of your face. The air gets very cold the further you go down and then it opens into a dizzying maze of an underground world made of nothing but salt.
Bristol, Havilah and Sterling all geared up and ready to go underground.
Riding the tram through the underground...I had to ignore the thought that millions of tons of salt was lingering above our heads held up by "salt pillars"--areas of salt left unmined to support the ceiling!
Layers of salt are marked by changing colors much like the earth's layers. Large salt mining equipment is taken down in pieces and re-built underground, and when it is retired or not needed anymore it's permanently left below ground as its considered not worth the time it takes to bring it topside again. Nothing will ever decay underground, due to the lack of moisture in the air and the consistent ideal temperature.
When we kids asked Dad & Mom if they would've liked to have their wedding reception in the reception hall at the bottom of the mine, both of them quickly answered "no." They said they preferred sunlight to salt!
We each got to pick a fist-size piece of salt to take home as a souvenir. Havilah and I couldn't decide what was "fist size"-- our fists or the 6' man across the room?!
We knew it was time to leave when the salty air started getting to the boys' heads!
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