Like many others before me, I came to Greensburg, Kansas to see its major claim-to-fame: the world's largest hand-dug well. I was expecting another odd roadside attraction, but what I got instead was a much more meaningful connection to a small town that I will now always remember. Not just for its record-holding well, but for its inspiring rejuvenation in the wake of a great tragedy.
In 2007, an EF5 tornado devastated the town of Greensburg, killing eleven people, and leveling almost every building in town.
About half of the town's population ended up moving away after the tornado, and for a time things looked bleak for Greensburg. But then something remarkable happened.
The remaining residents got together and decided to rebuild their community. But they didn't want to simply recreate what was lost; they wanted to remake a better Greensburg. A greener Greensburg.
It wasn't a quick decision or an easy process, but eventually, using environmentally-friendly construction techniques, they built a new town that is sustainable. They were so successful, in fact, that Greensburg is now considered one of the most sustainable small towns in the world. Many other towns now use Greensburg as a model for ways that they can make their own towns greener and more sustainable.
In 2007, an EF5 tornado devastated the town of Greensburg, killing eleven people, and leveling almost every building in town.
About half of the town's population ended up moving away after the tornado, and for a time things looked bleak for Greensburg. But then something remarkable happened.
The remaining residents got together and decided to rebuild their community. But they didn't want to simply recreate what was lost; they wanted to remake a better Greensburg. A greener Greensburg.
It wasn't a quick decision or an easy process, but eventually, using environmentally-friendly construction techniques, they built a new town that is sustainable. They were so successful, in fact, that Greensburg is now considered one of the most sustainable small towns in the world. Many other towns now use Greensburg as a model for ways that they can make their own towns greener and more sustainable.
The town of Greensburg is located in south-central Kansas, about a 2 hour drive west of Wichita. You can still see the lingering effects of the tornado as you drive through town. There are still quite a few vacant lots leftover from property owners who decided not to rebuild. The buildings that you do see are (obviously) all pretty new, which in itself gives the town a much different look from most other small rural towns.
Empty lots and bare foundations are now a common sight in Greensburg.
These steps are all that remain of the church that once stood on this site.
The aptly-named BIG WELL is easy to find, right beside the new water tower. The old museum was one of many buildings destroyed in the tornado, so a new one had to be built. The new museum just opened in 2012.
The well is at the center of the museum, right under that circular rotunda. A spiral staircase leads both up above the well, and down into it.
Taking the stairs up leads to a viewing area where you can overlook the town. Various notable (and sustainably-constructed) buildings are labeled on the windows.
This high perch also gives you a great view down into the 109-foot depth (and 32-foot width) of BIG WELL.
You can also descend the spiral staircase down into the well. The stairs don't go all the way to the very bottom, but they get pretty close.
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The museum exhibits encircle the well, and tell the story of Greensburg in three parts: the history of the town and the well, the tornado, and the rebuilding.
Part 1: History
The town of Greensburg was founded in the 1880's, and the well was dug shortly thereafter. The town founders decided that a reliable and convenient water source would attract more settlers to the town so they set upon building a well big enough to supply water to the entire town. The entire well (109 feet deep and 32 feet across) was completed in less than 10 months. Piping to connect the rest of the town to its water source soon followed.
Greensburg was billed as having the finest water works system in the state, and the town prospered. The well very quickly gained fame as the world's largest hand-dug well, and eventually became a tourist attraction. It welcomed its millionth visitor in 1956.
BIG WELL souvenirs through the ages
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the well's millionth visitor
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Part 2: the Tornado
The museum then chronicles the destruction brought to the town by the 2007 tornado. There are video screens that play heartbreaking interviews with survivors who have just lost their homes. One grim symbol on display is a siren that wailed its warning until the tornado ripped it from its perch and destroyed it.
Words can hardly do justice to the devastation that Greensburg experienced, so I'll leave you with a few photos the museum displayed of the tornado's aftermath.
Part 3: Rebuilding a Green City
The residents of Greensburg responded to the tornado by deciding to rebuild their community in a sustainable way. Recognizing the problems of climate change and depletion of natural resources, they took inspiration from Greensburg's original settlers and tried to find a way to live off the land without destroying it.
The US is the world's 7th biggest energy consumer...
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...and 39% of our energy use goes to buildings.
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The museum takes you through some of the steps Greensburg took to become a sustainable town and highlights the construction techniques used to get there.
One of the most impressive improvements is Greensburg's Wind Farm. You can see the large windmills just outside of town. Just 10 windmills supply enough energy to power every building in Greensburg! In fact, they only use a third of the generated wind energy - the rest is placed back on the power grid for use by other Kansans.
The town has taken some impressive strides that I think other towns can learn from! A visit to Greensburg isn't just about seeing a really big well - it's about learning this town's powerful and inspiring story of rejuvenation after an incredible disaster to become something even better than what is was before.
Click here to visit the BIG WELL website
open M-Sa 9-6, Su 1-6
$8 admission for adults, $6 for children aged 5-12, 4 & under free
In the area? A 10-minute drive will take you to some impressive metal art!
open M-Sa 9-6, Su 1-6
$8 admission for adults, $6 for children aged 5-12, 4 & under free
In the area? A 10-minute drive will take you to some impressive metal art!
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