By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
From towering bison to historical figures and community memorials, Pete Felten left his mark on Kansas one stone at a time.
Through the efforts of the Pete Felten Legacy Society and the Ellis County Historical Society, that legacy is now moving toward a permanent home.
Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society, said the effort has been in development for years due to Felten’s long-standing relationship with the organization.
“His workshop and Stone Gallery have always been right behind our property,” Rupp said. “He’s been part of the historical society for years, helping with our buildings, working on limestone repairs, even making our sign out front.”
Rupp said the first priority is stabilization, particularly the roof of the Stone Gallery, which is currently in critical condition.
“The roof is the main thing,” she said. “It leaks very, very badly. Every time it rains, they’re in there with buckets.”
Rupp added Felten was known for maintaining the building in his own way over the years, often repairing what he could by hand, yet there are some major renovations that need to take place before opening.
“We could have the gallery open if it had a stable roof on it, and the walls fixed up a little bit and some good electricity in there," Rupp said. " Two or three years probably."
Rupp said the immediate goal is to install a new roof within the next six months to prevent further damage to the structure and its contents, which include Felten’s sculptures, drawings and personal notebooks.
Once stabilized, Rupp hopes the gallery could open for limited public access, even as renovations continue.
“A full restoration will take time and funding,” Rupp said. “We’re looking at about ten years for the entire project.”
Felten arranged for his property to eventually transfer to the society through his will, allowing for long-term preservation planning.
The Stone Gallery also building predates the oldest existing church in Hays that was built in 1878. Adjacent to the Stone Gallery is Felten’s studio, identifiable by its large blue doors, which once belonged to his father’s original shipping business that later evolved into a trucking operation.
To move the project forward, a subgroup called the Pete Felten Legacy Society has formed under the Ellis County Historical Society.
According to Rupp, the society will lead fundraising, oversee stabilization work and coordinate long-term restoration efforts. It is also working toward establishing its own 501(c)(3) status and managing a dedicated fundraising account.
Beyond the statues and art, Rupp said one of the most personal pieces of the site will also be preserved: Felten’s old pickup truck, which he used as a workbench for decades.
“It sits in the workshop area and hasn’t moved in years,” Rupp said. “He used the bed of that truck as his work table which will absolutely be part of the display.”
Felten, who was born and raised in Hays, was not formally trained as an artist. After attending Fort Hays State University for a year, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956, traveling widely and visiting museums across the United States and abroad. Those experiences sparked a lifelong interest in sculpture.
After his service, he studied briefly at an art league school in New York before returning to western Kansas, where he built a career spanning more than four decades.
Working primarily in limestone, Felten created monuments honoring Kansas history, people and culture.
During the following decades, his work expanded across the region. In Hays alone, he created more than 20 major sculptures, including Monarch of the Plains at Historic Fort Hays, the Kent State Memorial at Fort Hays State University, Wild Bill Hickok, Elizabeth Polly, Street Singer and Watching the Wagons Come In.
One of his most recognizable statewide works, Four Famous Kansans, is installed in the Kansas State Capitol Rotunda in Topeka.
On Feb. 2, 2026, Felten received the Governor’s Arts Legacy Award from the Kansas Arts Commission, recognizing his lifelong contribution to preserving history through art. He died two days later at age 92.
His sculptures stand along busy streets, outside schools and libraries, in courthouse squares and community landmarks across western Kansas.
Residents pass his Buffalo Bill Cody bust downtown, his Monarch of the Plains bison at Historic Fort Hays and dozens of other limestone creations that have become woven into the region’s identity.
Now, months after Felten’s death at age 92, efforts are underway to ensure the artist’s legacy endures for future generations.
Today, his workshop sits quiet, but Rupp said she hopes it will soon become a place where visitors can experience both the artist and the craft behind the sculptures that shaped western Kansas.
How to donate
Donate to the fund here:https://gscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=11726&sorg_id=1039.
Charitable contributions to the Pete Felten Legacy Fund are welcome at any time, including cash gifts, IRA charitable distributions, appreciated stock, and gifts of artwork. T
The fund is administered by Heartland Community Foundation, providing professional charitable oversight and support. It is also easy to set up recurring donations.
for more information on Pete Felten and his work click here
Below is a full list of his completed work:
- Buffalo Bill Cody (1961) — 12th & Main
- Monarch of the Plains (1967) — Historic Fort Hays
- Kent State Memorial (1972) — FHSU Memorial Union
- Boot Hill Man (1972) — 18th & Fort
- Lawman (1975) — 16th & Main
- Hadley Memorial (1976) — 201 E. 7th
- Hereford Bull (1977) — KSU Ag Research Center
- FHSU Students (1977) — 8th St & Campus Drive, FHSU
- Stone Gallery (1980) — 107 W. 6th
- Street Singer (1981) — 7th & Main
- Nun (1982) — 2220 Canterbury Drive
- Elizabeth Polly (1983) — 26th & Indian Trail
- Pioneer Tower (1985) — 2900 Hall
- Wild Bill Hickok (1989) — 10th & Main
- Watching the Wagons Come In (1990) — N. Vine St.
- Train Hwy (1995) — 40th & Commerce Pkwy
- Teacher & Student (1997) — FHSU Country Schoolhouse
- Buffalo (1998) — 500 Commerce Pkwy.
- Pteranodon (2000) — Commerce Pkwy.
- Small Buffalo — 14th & Main
- Sculpture Garden — 16th & Main
- Christ & Lamb (2001) — 27th & Fort
Limestone Statues around Kansas:
- Pioneer Family (1971) — Oberlin
- Volga German Family (1976) — Victoria
- Capuchin Priest (1976) — Victoria
- Angus Monument (1977) — Victoria
- St. Francis (1978) — Munjor
- Golden Eagle (1978) — WaKeeney High School
- Buffalo (1980) — Atwood
- 4 Famous Kansans (1981) — Topeka State Capitol Rotunda
- Girl Reading (1984) — Hill City Library
- Eagle (1986) — WaKeeney Courthouse
- Lane County Centennial Monument (1986) — Dighton Courthouse