Exploring the Pete Felten Sculptures and Stone Gallery in Hays, Kansas

In Hays, Kansas, art and history converge through the remarkable work of sculptor Pete Felten. Known for his limestone carvings that honor Kansas heritage, Felten’s sculptures are found throughout Hays, but his Stone Gallery is where you can see his artistry up close. Once you see some of the Pete Felten Sculptures in Hays, you can immediately identify that it is one of Felten’s masterpieces when you are out and about in Kansas. As an artist myself, it is fascinating that Pete Felten’s body of work is so well recognized.

Who is Pete Felten?

“Out in the prairie, where there is so little public art on view, it is easy to think that we are culturally deprived, and so we are in ways, but if a person is willing to dig for it, he can find a rich heritage”. – Pete Felten

Pete Felten was born in Hays in 1933. After a stint in the Navy and a couple of college courses, and having been mentored by sculptor John Berland, he decided to try his hand at carving stone. He was amazed that he could actually do it. This began his life work creating sculptures and using materials that he could find.

Limestone is abundant in Kansas, as evidenced by the numerous buildings throughout the state, which Pete started using when he began his career in the 1960s. Pete has become known for his ability to bring life to local Kansas limestone. He works with a variety of stone, including Alabaster, Fence Post Limestone, Texas Limestone, Vermont Blue Marble, Colorado Yule Marble, Kansas Limestone, and Indiana Limestone. He has also used Carthage Marble, but thought it was too flashy, so he stuck with his favorite, Silverdale limestone, mined in Kansas City, for the majority of his sculptures. He believed that material which is beautiful in itself detracts from the subject.

For over 80 years, Pete has been creating limestone sculptures that can now be found worldwide, becoming a true treasure of Hays and the surrounding area. He has become remarkably prolific in his accomplishments, producing small sculptures, reliefs, three-dimensional pieces, and nudes. For him, the body in its current form is natural and drives him the most.

Pete’s close friend, Bruce Burkholder, a photorealist painter himself, recounted to us hilarious stories of their friendship and travels, including a stop at Monument Rocks, Kansas. Pete asked him to stand where the Big Arch was. Then Pete asked him to take off his clothes for photos to be used for his sculptures. We all cracked up laughing at the randomness of that moment.

Another time, Pete asked Bruce to come over and help him take a picture of him between rocks that were standing in his yard. When he arrived, Pete was only wearing his shorts. Pete asked him to go up a ladder to get the right angle. He asked him, “Are you ready to take the picture?” He said yes, and then Pete dropped his shorts. Anything to get the shot, you need to create.

During my recent visit to Hays, Kansas, I was able to enter his workspace, located at 113 W. Sixth, and see where he created these massive limestone sculptures. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet him as he was recovering from an illness.

At the end of our visit to Hays, we drove by the garage a second time and caught a glimpse of Pete sitting in his spot, working on another limestone piece of art on the back of a 1965 International pickup truck. The fascinating thing is that at 92 years old, he is still using a hammer and chisel to create his masterpieces.

In the 1980s, Pete Felten was commissioned to carve the likenesses of four famous Kansans: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Amelia Earhart, U.S. Senator Arthur Capper, and journalist William Allen White. The life-size sculptures can be seen in the rotunda of the State Capitol in Topeka. He received $60,000 for these four sculptures, which he used to remodel a small house adjacent to his workspace/garage, creating the Stone Gallery and a limestone fence that showcases Felten’s detailed carvings.

Pete Felten’s Stone Gallery

Starting in 1986, his Stone Gallery wall, located at 107 1/2 W 6th St, was built almost entirely from the material he loves most. Originally, it was intended to be a sculpture garden, similar to the Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas. The wall itself feels like a work of art, with detailed carvings and textures across its surface. Each stone tells a different story, from carved animals to patterned tiles that add color and charm. He stopped carving the wall in 2014.

These photos show part of the wall’s intricate stonework, featuring hand-carved designs, small inlaid tiles, and reliefs of animals, such as the running rabbit, and the last relief, the teradactyl, which he worked on at the age of 91. Most of the animals were carved based on photographs that he or his friend, Bruce, took. Every section showcases Felten’s creativity and his deep connection to the materials and history of western Kansas.

The use of local stone grounds the artwork in place, making the wall both a display and a living piece of the region’s landscape.

Visitors are always welcome to view Felten’s sculptures at his studio and watch him work on his current project. The small blue bungalow of the Stone Gallery can be found on the 100 block of West Sixth. The indoor studio showcases paintings and sculptures crafted from wood, clay, and plaster by local artists. Pete is always willing to show visitors around his studio and explain the process he uses to create beautiful works of art. Guided tours available by appointment.

Where to Find Pete Felten Sculptures

Beyond the gallery, Felten’s work can be found throughout Hays, accessible by driving or walking down Main Street. There are plenty more sculptures off the beaten path, in wide open spaces, and even beside major highways.

Hays City Boot Hill features one of the many Pete Felten Sculptures, a statue of a man standing tall, hat in hand, overlooking the historic site where the Old West once came alive. Felten’s attention to human character is clear here; he captures not only physical likeness but the feeling of resilience and pride that shaped the early settlers of Hays.

The Buffalo Bill Cody statue was Felten’s first large commission piece, completed in 1961. It is located in front of the Hays Public Library at 1205 Main Street.

The sculpture of Wild Bill Hickok is located at the southeast corner of 10th and Main in downtown Hays.

The Lawman in front of City Hall at 15th & Main is one of Felten’s favorites, and he sees the lawman every day, as it is across the street from Felten’s home. It is made from Indiana Limestone carved in 1975.

The guitar player/singer at the northwest corner of Seventh and Main sits at the site of the former Brunswick Hotel, which is now an empty lot. I love that these sculptures incorporate natural elements, making them stunning photographs.

Two children reading at Fourth and Main have greeted students at Washington Elementary School for over 12 years. Admiring the details on this sculpture, one wonders what book they are reading.

One thing you’ll notice is that Pete Felten has done numerous sculptures of buffalo. They are found throughout the Stone Gallery fence, in town, and at the Historic Fort Hays. This little guy shades himself at the corner of 14th and Main in front of the American Heritage Agency, Inc.

The Volga German Family (Pioneer Family), a family of six, is located at 10th and Cathedral Streets in Victoria. It sits just across the street to the northwest of the Basilica of St. Fidelis, which commemorates the heritage of Ellis County. The first twenty-three families of the Volga-Germans arrived in Victoria on April 8, 1876, and established the village of Herzog in the area north of this point.

The first religious activities of these settlers centered around the village cross. In the following months and years, they were joined by many more Volga-German immigrants. The community outgrew three church buildings before the present church was completed in 1912. This statue, a tribute to these pioneers, was dedicated on July 28, 1976.

Monarch of the Plains

This last image highlights one of his most famous pieces, “Monarch of the Plains,” the large Indiana Limestone buffalo that stands on the grounds of Fort Hays State Historic Site. Created to commemorate Hay’s centennial, his sculpture honors the animal that once roamed the plains, symbolizing strength and endurance. Felten carved the eight-foot-high and ten-foot-long buffalo in bold detail, setting it atop a heavy eight-foot-high stone base decorated with smaller relief carvings that celebrate prairie life. The sculpture began as a 24-ton statue that Pete completed in two years, finishing in 1967.

The Legacy of Pete Felten Sculptures

Together, Felten’s works form a visual timeline of Kansas history, its people, wildlife, and frontier spirit. Walking through Hays, you can trace his influence from the Stone Gallery to public parks and historic landmarks. His sculptures remind visitors that art isn’t just something you see in museums; it’s part of the environment and the story of a community.

As an artist, he believes that not everyone can make sculptures, but many people have no idea of what they are capable of doing with their hands. He feels that it isn’t “taught”. You just have to decide to do something, and then you do it. The more you do it, the better you can accomplish your goal. There are no rules or limitations except those imposed by your own imagination.

An artist works because he has something to say, although it may be difficult to put into words. He works because he has something to show us, of which to make us aware. That is why seeing art is enlightening and pleasurable. Viewing great art can be deeply moving and enriching.

This is also why when I travel, I always seek out art, whether it is street murals or sculptures. A visit to the Pete Felten Sculptures and Stone Gallery is a journey into both craftsmanship and Kansas culture. Whether you come for the art or the history, you’ll leave with a new appreciation for the way one artist shaped stoned into the spirit of the prairie. Long after Pete is done chipping away at the limestone blocks, his sculptures will continue to remind people of the importance of the Kansas prairie.