Who wouldn’t be excited to marvel at monuments, delve into western heritage, ponder static displays of great planes and then interact with wild things? Within the confines of Wichita geography are a myriad of museums and a variety of activities to keep even the most distracted person engaged in the moment. As the largest city in Kansas, Wichita is located in the heart of the great plains in Central Kansas, and is a repository for activities that appeal to all age groups.
1. Begin your trip with a night visit to the Keeper of the Plains plaza and sculpture, where fire drums surround the statue and are dramatically lit each night. The Keeper of the Plains stands with hands raised in supplication to the Great Spirit. Today, it is a source of great pride to all from Wichita and is easily the most recognized landmark for anyone from Kansas.
Erected in 2007 to commemorate the life of Native Americans, the 43-foot tall, 5-ton statue is constructed of weathered steel and is strategically positioned on a 30-foot promontory that overlooks the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers. It was donated to the citizens of Wichita by the famous artist Blackbear Bosin, a Kiowa Comanche. Pedestrians can easily access the statue via two bow-and-arrow-inspired cable stay bridges.
2. Discover Old Cowtown Museum (316.350.3323) and experience how life was in the 1860’s on the plains. You’ll want to bring your camera as you are bound to meet some interesting people along the way. Sometimes there is even a shootout, so look for cover when the action starts.
3. Explore the history of wings with a trip to the Kansas Aviation Museum (316.683.9242). Housed in the original art-deco style Wichita Municipal Airport Terminal Building, the museum features tributes to the history of air travel and the growth and development of general aviation in Kansas.
After all, Wichita is called the “Air Capital of the World” because this is where Boeing, Cessna and Beech aircraft had such a significant contribution to the growing world of aviation. Around the 1920’s and 1930’s, there were over eighty companies in the business of building planes and airplane parts, translating into 75% of all general aviation aircraft having been built in Wichita. Though the industry is down these days, it still has a market share between 40-45% of general aviation.
Be sure to stroll the grounds and marvel at static displays of august aircraft such as a 1927 Swallow, a 1934 Stearman Trainer, a KC-135, a B52 Bomber, the ground-breaking Beech Starship, and the scene-stealer FedEx 727. It’s expected that by September of this year the indoor museum will be air-conditioned as well as ADA accessible when the elevators come on line.
4. It’s all happening at the zoo – Sedgwick County Zoo (316.660.9453). As the largest paid attraction in Kansas, it’s also the 7th largest zoo in the United States. Don’t miss the free narrated tram tour for an overview of the expansive grounds. My favorites include the gorillas of The Downing Gorilla Forest where I was totally entranced by the western lowland gorillas and their antics.
The 50,000 square foot Slawson Family Tiger Trek positions you up close and personal with tigers, red pandas and brow-antlered deer. (Another favorite). With more than 3,000 animals ranging from poison dart frogs and penguins to chimpanzees and orangutans, the wild ones will educate and beguile any animal lover.
5. A companion attraction is Tanganyika Wildlife Park (316.794.8954). Open to the public in 2008, they are dedicated to education and preserving genetic diversity, so that means they maintain an active breeding program. From the lovable but endangered ring-tailed lemur to the endangered black rhinoceros and the critically endangered Amur leopard, their collection consists of more than 300 animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. They claim to have “some of the most rare, endangered and interactive animals in Kansas.”
At Tanganyika you’ll find one of the largest groups of reticulated giraffes in the United States. Much like every snowflake is unique, so it is with the patterns on giraffes. No two will be alike. The giraffes are particularly sociable here, and make for some interesting interactions.
The ring-tailed lemur, endemic to Madagascar, is classified as “endangered” because of habitat destruction and because they are hunted for “bush” meat as well as the exotic pet trade market. A sociable animal, they are omnivorous and diurnal – active only during the day – which makes them a favorite attraction.
All photos are copyright-protected by Karin Leperi
For additional resources:
