It's no surprise Salina's Masonic Temple is on the short list for selection as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture. It is a noble structure and deserves the recognition.

The competition is sponsored by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. It started with 129 nominations, including Salina's United Building and Memorial Hall. Clearly, the Masonic Temple is tops among those three, and tops among the 24 finalists.

That list includes other worthy finalists in the Journal's distribution area, including: Lebold Mansion and Seelye Mansion in Abilene; Osborne County Courthouse, Osborne; Cooper Barn, Colby; Holy Cross Church, Pfeifer; Peter Paul Loewen House, Hillsboro; and Saint Joseph Church, Damar.

Architecture is not the only area where the state's top "8 Wonders" will be selected. The Kansas Sampler Foundation also is determining its top eight among eight elements used to promote the state -- architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history and people. The program is designed to promote travel and educate people about our state.

One of the high points of this program is participation by the public, who will select the winners by voting on the Web site at www.kansas sampler.org/8wonders/.org. Paper ballots also can be downloaded and printed from the Web site. Voting will continue through midnight June 15. The top eight will be announced June 30.

Obviously, we encourage readers to vote for the Masonic Temple, because the value in this competition is more than bragging rights. Tourism officials say winners will see an increase in awareness and visitors, which is particularly important to sites raising money for restoration, like the temple.

The next 8 Wonders of Kansas competition is the art segment. It opens July 1 and details are available at the 8wonders.org Web site.

No doubt Salina also will have finalists in that competition -- perhaps even one of our public art installations. It would be fitting recognition for our community's commitment to the arts, and it would add more attractions to the list of reasons to visit Salina.

-- Tom Bell

Editor & Publisher

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