Wichita: The Air Capital
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ORIENTATION
Wichita is located in south central Kansas, at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers. Situated in the central great plains of the United States in Sedgwick County, Wichita is the most populous city in Kansas. Kansas City and Topeka are 173 mi (278 km) and 129 mi (207 km) northeast, respectively, of Wichita. Major cities that are in close proximity to Wichita are Denver, Colorado, to the west, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to the south and Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the southeast.
HISTORY
The area at the merging of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers, which is today known as Wichita, was for 11,000 years recognized as a trading center for nomadic peoples. Wichita is named for the Wichita Indians who originally settled the area with sod houses in 1863. In 1870, Wichita was incorporated as a village and soon after became the county seat of Sedgwick County. The railroad arrived in 1872 and Wichita became the railhead destination, the last stop on the way to the east, for cattle drives from Texas and other southwestern states. The prosperous village was incorporated as a city in 1886, making Wichita the area’s primary center. The early 20th century heralded the discovery of oil near Wichita, allowing entrepreneurs to invest revenue from oil production in the emerging airline industry. Two subsequent world wars provided further impetus for growth in Wichita, as it was established as a manufacturing hub for airplanes.
Today, Wichita is still booming and is known as the Air Capital of the World with facilities producing 70 percent of the United States’ commercial and military aircrafts. Many of the aircraft manufacturers that are well-known, such as Cessna, Airbus, Learjet (now Bombardier) and Raytheon (formerly known as Beech) were founded in Wichita and house their manufacturing facilities in the city. It is this history of industry that makes Wichita the most populous and prosperous city in Kansas.
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CLIMATE
Wichita is defined by four distinct seasons. With an elevation of a little over 1,300 ft (396 m) above sea level, Wichita's summer months are warm with moderately steady winds and relatively low humidity. Wichita experiences temperatures above 90ºF (32ºC) approximately 63 days a year. Winters are usually mild, with snowfall averaging 15 in (38 cm) per year, and each instance of snow rarely lasting more than three days. Annual rainfall is around 29 in (73 cm), with 70 percent occurring between April and September.
TRANSPORTATION
Four major highways run through or near Wichita: Interstate 35, the Kansas Turnpike, Interstates 135, 235 and US Highway 54/400. These four highways link Wichita to surrounding areas and make the city easily accessible.
The city houses Kansas’ largest airport, the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, where there are many flights in and out of the city on a daily basis by several major airlines. Wichita is also serviced by Greyhound bus lines. Amtrak train services are also available 20 mi (32 km) north of the city in the town of Newton.
Wichita has a public transit service that operates 18 bus routes that deliver customers within a quarter mile of nearly 90 percent of businesses and residences. A 24-hour taxi service is available, as well as several rental car providers.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Museums
Wichita Art Museum
Wichita has a variety of museums for visitors to explore. The Wichita
Art Museum, established in 1915, endeavors to acquire, exhibit and preserve
American art. Permanent collections belonging to the museum include more than
6000 pieces of art, and a variety of exhibitions on various themes are continuously
showcased. Acknowledged as the largest art museum in Wichita, the Wichita Art
Museum strives to educate the public about the heritage and possible future
of American art.
Old Cowtown Museum
For a more hands-on experience, visitors should head over to the Old
Cowtown Museum. As an open-air living history museum, patrons can experience
life in Kansas from 1865 to 1880—including claiming their stake of land at
the land office and helping out on the farm. The museum includes an authentic
Kansas cattle town with a combination of more than 26 historic buildings located
on 25 acres (10 ha) of land along the Chisholm Trail.
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Ulrich Museum of Art on the campus
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Ulrich Art Museum
The Ulrich
Museum of Art, which is situated on the grounds of Wichita
State University, was founded in 1974 and features contemporary art
by both established and emerging artists. The museum’s collection consists of
20th- and 21st-century paintings, sculptures and works on paper. Exhibits include
the prominent Martin H. Bush outdoor sculpture collection, which contains over
70 pieces by various artists and stretches out over 330 acres (133 ha) across
the university’s campus.
Mid-American All-Indian Center
The Mid-American
All-Indian Center is a cultural experience not to be missed. The center
includes a museum and a kiva, a partly-underground, circular ceremonial space
that hosts events from wedding to reunions. The center is a locale that brings
together many elements of American Indian customs. The museum presents traditional
artifacts as well as contemporary pieces of art so that patrons can learn about
the heritage of the people who originally settled Wichita.
Other museums that may interest visitors to Wichita include the Frank Lloyd Wright-Allen Lambe Museum, the Kansas Aviation Museum and the Museum of World Treasures.
Wichita River Festival
Wichita hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, including the longest-running and largest event in the state of Kansas—the Wichita River Festival. Occurring annually in May for a period of nine days, the River Festival takes place in the Old Town and Downtown districts of Wichita. Festival activities include over 70 attractions, from a flea market and music concerts to plays and interactive children’s events.
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Monarch Butterflies at Botanica's Butterfly Garden. |
Other Wichita Attractions
For gardening enthusiasts, Botanica, the Wichita Gardens, boasts 24 themed gardens, including a Shakespearean garden, made up of many flowers and herbs mentioned in Shakespeare’s literary works; a peony collection; a butterfly garden; and the Sally Stone Sensory garden, which allows individuals who are disabled or visually impaired to experience the vegetation through either touch or smell. Each parcel of land is abundantly adorned with plants, water features and sculptures.
Exploration Place is an all-ages science and discovery center where visitors can gain knowledge from informal and interactive learning areas. A range of topics are explored at the center, from fossils and flight to people and health. The exhibits change periodically, offering a different experience with each visit.
Opened in 1971, the Sedgwick County Zoo highlights over 2,500 animals of approximately 500 species. The zoo is divided into different continents so that visitors can view the animals in habitats that simulate their natural environment. The Sedgwick County Zoo also includes a gorilla forest and a chimpanzee and orangutan habitat.
The Wichita Grand Opera was founded in November of 2000 and has grown at a rapid rate since then. Located in the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, the Grand Opera employs an orchestra and a chorus of singers. Each season the company features classic operas during the fall and winter months, with galas and concerts presented in the spring and summer.
Take in the cosmos at the Lake Afton Observatory, located 20 mi (32 km) from downtown Wichita. Open only in the evenings, the observatory, which is a part of Wichita State University’s physics department, employs a 16 in (40 cm) telescope for visitors to view the stars and planets, and features a museum with interactive exhibits to round out the visit.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Ulrich Museum of Art; Ulrich Museum of Art on the Campus of Wichita State University; Wichita,KS., USA