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It Happened In...
It Happened in Kansas: Remarkable Events That Shaped History
It Happened in Kansas features over 25 chapters in Kansas history. Lively and entertaining, this book brings the varied and fascinating history of the Sunflower State to life.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
17 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Smarsh
12 books643 followersSarah Smarsh is a journalist who has reported for The New York Times, Harper’s, the Guardian, and many other publications. Her first book, Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her second book, She Come by It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Smarsh is a frequent political commentator and speaker on socioeconomic class.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 12, 2024
I am a Kansas gal! I really enjoyed her short stories of remarkable events in history! I learned a lot!
February 23, 2024
The author tells some of the history of Kansas via short stories. The events run from the pre-historic to the contemporary. A good, short read for anyone who enjoys history.
April 11, 2019
A nice short book that gives one a good idea how Kansas has grown as a state and even transformed a nation. Each section is only a few pages, so one can easily read a piece of history that may not interest them, yet easily find more information on those topics that are. I'm a live long Kansan and learned a more on things that I only heard a smidgen about. For instance I've often heard Stull was the 7th Gateway to Hell, but I never heard why people thought this and learned a bit more about the legends. For the most part I was aware of everything discussed except for the goat gland doctor, which really isn't "Kansas" history in my opinion.
January 22, 2014
A nice short book that gives one a good idea how Kansas has grown as a state and even transformed a nation. Each section is only a few pages, so one can easily read a piece of history that may not interest them, yet easily find more information on those topics that are. I'm a live long Kansan and learned a more on things that I only heard a smidgen about. For instance I've often heard Stull was the 7th Gateway to Hell, but I never heard why people thought this and learned a bit more about the legends. For the most part I was aware of everything discussed except for the goat gland doctor, which really isn't "Kansas" history in my opinion.
March 28, 2011
Book #16 for 2011 - I really liked this book - short, true stories about things that have taken place in Kansas from the 1500s to present time. It was fun to read and many of the stories were new to me. At times, however, I was not proud to be a Kansan!
September 16, 2014
Though the writing isn't the best I've ever encountered, this book is a quick and fascinating history of the events that shaped Kansas. I'd definitely recommend it to a native.
February 1, 2021
Sarah Smarsh is a Kansas author that I automatically read. Her writing is intelligent, sharp, and just as engaging as she is in person. So when I discovered this early work on a Kansas Day display at my library, I felt like I won a golden ticket. I ❤️ my library.
Written in 2010 for the “It Happened in…” series, by the independent publisher Rowman & Littlefield, Smarsh shares with readers twenty-five essays spanning 8400 B.C. to 2007. Each essay is only a couple of pages making this short (163 pages) collection a sampler platter of, as the subtitle states, remarkable events that shaped history. As a Kansas native, there were several events and figures I was already familiar with and yet there were others that were new to me. Either way, I enjoyed Smarsh’s quips and insights like in the essay “Gateway to Hell” describing the origins of a popular Kansas legend. I’m sure it’s difficult to select only twenty-five events or people to include, and while I would have only omitted maybe one or two in favor of something else, I think Smarsh’s choices offer readers a wide range. Essays I found particularly interesting were “Twelve Mile Creek - 8400B.C.”, “Planes on the Plains”, “Piece of the Pie”, “City Divided” and “Greensburg - 2007” which this later essay I would love for Smarsh to revisit in a where-are-they-now follow up.
I’d definitely suggest this title to anyone interested in the midwest or a fan of Sarah Smarsh’s writing.
Written in 2010 for the “It Happened in…” series, by the independent publisher Rowman & Littlefield, Smarsh shares with readers twenty-five essays spanning 8400 B.C. to 2007. Each essay is only a couple of pages making this short (163 pages) collection a sampler platter of, as the subtitle states, remarkable events that shaped history. As a Kansas native, there were several events and figures I was already familiar with and yet there were others that were new to me. Either way, I enjoyed Smarsh’s quips and insights like in the essay “Gateway to Hell” describing the origins of a popular Kansas legend. I’m sure it’s difficult to select only twenty-five events or people to include, and while I would have only omitted maybe one or two in favor of something else, I think Smarsh’s choices offer readers a wide range. Essays I found particularly interesting were “Twelve Mile Creek - 8400B.C.”, “Planes on the Plains”, “Piece of the Pie”, “City Divided” and “Greensburg - 2007” which this later essay I would love for Smarsh to revisit in a where-are-they-now follow up.
I’d definitely suggest this title to anyone interested in the midwest or a fan of Sarah Smarsh’s writing.
May 22, 2024
As a native Kansan, and having previously read and liked Smarsh's book Heartland, I picked this up to see what topics would be included and what I could learn. With a couple of exceptions, every chapter was an enjoyable read, and just the right length not to get bogged down in detail. I especially enjoyed learning more about the Pottawatomie Massacre, Carry Nation, the Drs. Menninger (during high school I babysat for Dr. Will's grandchildren who lived next door to my family), Brown v Topeka Board of Education (and why that lawsuit came out of Topeka), and the town of Stull, which I drove past almost every time I traveled from Topeka to Lawrence in my college days. And the Flying Spaghetti Monster --who knew that originated in Kansas?
Smarsh succeeds in creating an admirable balance between the crazies, like Dr. John Brinkley, and heroes like Clarina Nichols, as well as between different time periods in Kansas history. Well done!
Smarsh succeeds in creating an admirable balance between the crazies, like Dr. John Brinkley, and heroes like Clarina Nichols, as well as between different time periods in Kansas history. Well done!
February 20, 2019
It was ok, a few tidbits of new information. I had never heard about the goat gland doctor who worked his medical scam from the small town of Milford, nor did I know about the town of Stull, Kansas. And it was news to me, than counterculture figure William S. Burroughs lived and died in Lawrence and while living there did project with Kurt Cobain, Deborah Harry, and Ralph Steadman.
June 28, 2020
As a transplant to Kansas, this slim volume shared bits of Kansas history that were unknown to me. Some fascinating (like the Menninger story), some amazing (Pastafarianism as a response to actions of the state board of education), all contributed to a better understanding of what makes Kansas uniquely Kansas.
January 22, 2019
I didn’t finish this book. It has interesting facts but I felt I was reading a 8th grade textbook and I didn’t want to waste my time. ie, knowing there will not be a test and I won’t remember it anyway
November 10, 2021
A group of historical short stories walk the reader through Kansas history from 8400 BC to 1997. Well written and easy to read. I was unaware that there were other "It happened in" books and I will be looking for books of states with rich historical significance in the history of our country.
January 9, 2019
This is a history of important events in Kansas. I love history, so liked the book, but already knew much of what was written.
July 11, 2021
I enjoyed this bird's-eye view of notable events that occurred in and around Kansas!
September 14, 2025
As a Kansas gal I love learning its history. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific event. I would call this a starter book that gives you good information that you can look further into.
June 8, 2012
An outstanding book. Well researched, concise and to the point, and with no exaggeration, it's quite possibly the most readable history book every written. Each chapter is no more than 7 pages long and gives all the highlights of the great figures and events that are associated with Kansas...anyone from Dwight Eisenhower, Amelia Earhart, school desegregation, and as recent as the Greensburg tornado. Incredibly interesting.
February 4, 2014
It's our story that both defines and describes us. This incredibly readable book shares some of the signal stories that both shaped the state pf Kansas and remind us of why we are the way we are. It's an easy read that points us towards a very complicated state. Nicely done.
September 29, 2011
I'm glad I read it. I found out some thinigs I didn't know before. The book is short, and the selections are short.
March 29, 2013
Very fast, easy, and informative read. highly recommend
November 22, 2015
Fun book of interesting stories set in Kansas from prehistoric times through 2007.
September 30, 2015
Kansas is the 34th state in the union. We played a very important part of the anti-slavery message, and we were founded on the pioneer spirit.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews