CALDWELL, Kan. (KSNW) — Many people may not know, but Caldwell, Kansas, is the Ornate Box Turtle Capital of the World. The city is celebrating 40 years of the title by creating 12 unique pieces of art.

"I think every aspect of town is kind of leaned in to the turtles," explained local artist, Brooke Cink. "It's like instead of necessarily the blue jays or the outlaws, we are now also like turtle town."

Caldwell's history with the amphibian began with a class project in the 1980s.

"In April of 1986, the governor actually came to Caldwell and signed the bill, making the ornate box turtle the state reptile," added Caldwell City Administrator Leah Sommerhoff.

To honor this unlikely mascot, Sommerhoff asked several artists, including lifelong resident Brooke Cink, to design 12 ornate turtle

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