Mankato, the county seat of Jewell (JW) County, has an unusually attractive downtown just north of Highway 36.  Several turn-of-the-century buildings line Commercial Street. The former Bank Building is on the National Registry of Historical Places. It is now renovated into comfortable apartments.

The Ute Theatre has been refurbished and is showing movies again.

The old stone jail is on the National Register of Historic Places and is being restored.  It's a perfect expression of the optimism that led earlier Kansans to build such fancy and permanent public works.

The old jail is now one of several buildings that comprise the Jewell County Historical Society Museum.

The Community Center and Library building was built in 2007. The Library is easily accessible and furnished with restored furniture form the old Library. The Community Center is the site for the Senior Center and Meals on Wheels for the county. The Community Center and a meeting room can be used for community events.