WHERE IN AMERICA ARE YOU?
by Randy Karr

The colossal Van Gogh sunflower painting you see is located near the geographic center of the United States and in a tri-state area whose economy is based on processing sunflowers into an oil and confection. While those driving along this state's northern border will see oceans of sunflowers surrounding them, the largest sits atop the 80-foot easel, in a town called the "Sunflower Capital of the High Plains." The 24 by 32 foot reproduction of Vincent Van Gogh's "Three Sunflowers in a Vase" is the third of seven planned around the world. The first two were constructed in Canada and Australia. Future sites include South Africa and Japan. What all seven sites will have in common is a connection to sunflower agriculture or to Van Gogh. Van Gogh created seven portraits of sunflowers from 1888 to 1889, while living in Arles, France. The town you are visiting became famous, in the 1880s, as home for quite a few rainmaking companies. While here, you can also see a replica of America's first patented helicopter. The original was destroyed in its maiden flight and the patent arrived after the pieces had been sold for scrap. Twenty miles to the north, near the Colorado and Nebraska border, General George Custer found the bodies of cavalrymen who were killed in the 1867 Kidder Massacre. Where in America are you, anyway? Name this prairie town and the nickname of the state where it is located.

Click on the image to reveal the answer.

© 2006 Randy Karr