The town's rapid growth in the 1870's and 80's filled the business blocks of Ellinwood from upstairs down to the basements. Typical of other areas and the Germanic-Austrian of passageways all along Washington (Main) Street and to the side streets. The lower level had a variety of store fronts and shops: drummer rooms, sample rooms, bath house, saloons, and meat storage. Typically shops changed locations from time to time. Ellinwood boasted of attorneys, hotels, a jewelry store, grain dealers, blacksmiths, boot makers, millinary shops, a brewery, dentists, general stores, billiard halls, lumber dealers, a newspaper along with a jail and a town band. Built in 1887, the Dick Building and a twin the Mangelsdorf, were at either end of Block 11. Visitors can stroll through passageways to three of yesterday's underground shops. The saga of long time proprietors Thomas Drake and William Jung will be related. They can view appointments of early shops and hear tales of Kansas constitutional prohibition and how it affected Ellinwood and its "Little Germany" reputation. In the days of "lemonade", the underground provided easy passages to one of the more prosperous endeavors of many in the community. Hours: Tours Are Conducted Only by Advance Reservations Tours Available daily - Adults $6.00 Located on the N.W. corner of Main & Santa Fe, U.S. 56 at the stoplight
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Ellinwood Underground Tunnels
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Pets Allowed
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
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