5. The Carrie Nation house in Medicine Lodge, Kansas
It was while residing in the house located on Fowler Street in Medicine Lodge, Kansas that Carrie Nation had a divine vision of herself smashing up saloons in nearby Kiowa, the opening blows of her career against the sin of drunkenness. She did not use an axe in her first sortie against saloons, rather she equipped herself with large rocks to smash the saloon’s bottles and kegs. A tornado in eastern Kansas shortly following her attack on her first three saloons was perceived by her to be an indication of divine approval of her efforts. Her assaults, which began in June, 1900, led to her husband suggesting that she would be able to destroy saloons and their stock more efficiently if she used an axe, rather than waste time seeking rocks of suitable size. She agreed. Two years later they divorced.
Over the course of the next ten years Carrie found herself arrested more than 30 time for her efforts, which she referred to as hatchetations and which were often accompanied by temperance supporters singing hymns while she whaled away with her axe. By the time Nation had achieved international notoriety she no longer resided in the home in Medicine Lodge. It is noted as the site from which her career as a saloon wrecker began, where she had the vision of herself as a “bulldog running along at the feet of Jesus, barking at what He doesn’t like”. Presumably Jesus would not have invited her to the wedding at Cana, where He performed the first of many miracles according to the gospels, the conversion of water into wine.