Caldwell, Kansas 67022

Click here to share an Ornate Box Turtle story with the World!

**********

Click here for a collection of photos on facebook and other information about Caldwell, Kansas and the Ornate Box Turtle.

**********

This page gives a brief history of how Caldwell, Kansas became the Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World. It also has links to other sites that expand on the colorful history of Caldwell, Kansas. Much more can be found by searching for phrases such as "Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World" and "State Reptile of Kansas" using a good search engine such as Google (www.google.com). Also note that some of the pictures on this page are links to other websites.

Caldwell, Kansas - Caldwell, Kansas - Caldwell, Kansas - Caldwell, Kansas - Caldwell, Kansas - Caldwell, Kansas - Caldwell, Kansas

"K is for Kansas" is the name of an exhibit at the Kauffman Museum located at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. Part of the exhibit features the Ornate Box Turtle and how it became our official State Reptile in 1986. Contact Andi Schmidt Andres at 316-283-1612 for more information.

*******************

Caldwell, Kansas became the official ORNATE BOX TURTLE CAPTIAL OF THE WORLD in 1986 after a massive campaign by the 1985-86 Caldwell, Kansas 6th grade class to have theORNATE BOX TURTLE named the official state reptile of Kansas. The ORNATE BOX TURTLE received its title as state reptile on 14 April 1986 when Kansas Governor John Carlin signed the official bill in Caldwell, Kansas. The following October the mayor of Caldwell signed an official proclamation declaring Caldwell the ORNATE BOX TURTLE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

(ABOUT THE ABOVE PHOTO) The members of Mr. Miller's 1986 6th grade class pose for a group photo on the steps of the Kansas Capitol Building during one of their lobbying trips to Topeka to promote a new state symbol. Mr. Larry Miller is on the far left. Mr. Lewis Stookey, Caldwell Elementary School principal, is on the far right. The small box in the hands of the second person from the left on the front row contained "Tina" the live Ornate Box Turtle that traveled around the state with the students as they promoted their cause.

Photo of bill signing from KODACHROME slide by Frances Kloefkorn of Caldwell, Kansas

(ABOUT THE ABOVE PHOTO) Kansas Governor John Carlin signs the famous Ornate Box Turtle bill (House Bill no. 3113) a few minutes after "high noon" in the Caldwell High School gym as Mr. Larry Miller, his 6th grade students, Kansas Representative Robert Miller (no relation to Larry Miller), and Kansas Senator Joe Warren watch. The bill signing was attended by several hundred people from all parts of Kansas. It was covered by all three major television networks (NBC, ABC, CBS) as well as several major newspapers and radio stations. Parts of the bill signing were transmitted around the world, and the students heard from people as far away as Europe and Australia that saw the event on their evening news.

(ABOUT THE PHOTO TO THE LEFT) Cleta Baker, far left in the photo, shows one of her pet Ornate Box Turtles to visitors from Topeka. Cleta owned and operated Cleta's Etc. Shop in Caldwell, Kansas for many years. She probably did more than anyone else in the small southcentral Kansas town to promote Caldwell as the "ORNATE BOX TURTLE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD" before her death in the late 1990's.

This very large wooden Ornate Box Turtle (right) was displayed in Cleta's store in Caldwell until her death. It was then given to Larry Miller.

The two middle school students in the photo are shown waving at cars in front of Mr. Miller's home in Wakarusa, Kansas a few days before the large turtle was dontated to Topeka Collegiate School. It is now on permanent display on the south side of the middle school science building on the Topeka Collegiate campus.

Click on this photo to go to EARTH DAY 2004 and

view photos from a NORTHERN HILLS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL biology field trip to the Caldwell area.

(ABOUT THE PHOTO TO THE LEFT) A group of people pose for a group photo in a rocky area located south of Caldwell during April of 1996. The group consisted of people from all parts of Kansas that had traveled to Caldwell that April to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the state reptile bill on 14 April 1986. Yes, the group did find an example of the official state reptile of Kansas during their visit to THE ORNATE BOX TURTLE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!

Many people from across Kansas and around the world became involved with the campaign to have the Ornate Box Turtle named the official state reptile of Kansas in 1986. You can learn more about some of these people and the organizations they are associated with by following some of the links on Mr. Miller's main website. Just click on this text to get to the main site.

Click on the photo of the Ornate Box Turtle to go

to the KANSAS HERITAGE PHOTOGRAPHY website

There have been a number of postcards featuring the Ornate Box Turtle since April of 1986. The card at the right shows an adult male Ornate Box Turtle as it trudges through some colorful Kansas wildflowers in search of food and a mate. The photo was taken near the Wakarusa River in southern Shawnee County by Suzanne L. Miller of KANSAS HERITAGE PHOTOGRAPHY.

This postcard and hundreds of other colorful Kansas cards are available from THE KANSAS POSTCARD COMPANY in Minneapolis, KS 67467.

Two tourist pose for a picture on South Main Street in Caldwell, Kansas. Note the painting of an Ornate Box Turtle on the building in the background. The painting was done by professional wildlife artist Martin B. Capron of Oxford, Kansas.

More information about the history of the Ornate Box Turtle in Caldwell, Kansas as well as information about upcoming turtle related events and other events in Caldwell can be obtained by writing to:

ORNATE BOX TURTLE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
THE CITY OF CALDWELL
CALDWELL, KS 67022