KTKA

Wamego has a classic example of early wind power technology and it just so happens to be a city icon.

It's one of the most recognizable icons in all of Kansas. Standing tall at the entrance of Wamego's city park and surrounded by breath-taking foliage is the Dutch Windmill.

Dating back to the 1870s, the windmill has become a familiar Kansas Landmark, not only for its undeniable beauty, but also for its rich and storied history.

Madge McDonald is the curator for the Wamego Museum and sees the windmill as a city symbol.

"It is Wamego's icon. We use it everywhere. You may notice downtown they have the blades of the windmill on the streets," says McDonald.

Milling has a long history in the sunflower state, but McDonald believes the Wamego windmill has its own special character.

"There are other mills, but they don't look quite like this. This looks more like a true Dutch-style mill than many of the others I've seen."

It is one in a handful of working mills in the state. But this century-old mill is no stranger to modernization. Grain is still able to be ground into flour, but today, the process is powered by an electric motor. For McDonald, the combination of its picturesque beauty and history keeps her a life-long admirer.

"The location is a lot of it. The park is so beautiful. But it is something that I come back into town after being gone a while, and I'm going to turn down to see the mill. Be sure it's still there."

And with more modern wind farms popping up all over the country, the Wamego mill serves as a striking example that what was once old is new again.