The Keeper of the Plains

A hometown symbol

Wichita: A city that continues to grow in the southeast region of a state that is predominantly cornfields and open plains. Any non-Kansan might find it fitting to throw a Wizard of Oz quote in right about now, but at least we are known for something, right? And ever heard of the Arkansas river? That bad boy runs right through the middle of the city. At the point where the river splits, sits what has become Wichita’s symbol: The Keeper of the Plains.

The Keeper of the Plains, Donated in May of 1974 by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin.

Wednesday was a perfect break from the 100+ degree weather we have been having lately. I rounded up the fam’ and set out for an evening walk along the river.

The beauty of that walk is the sculpture that stands tall reaching to the sky and looking over the city, made out of weathered steel. Seemingly connected to The Mid-America All-Indian Center, the Keeper also provides a great place to access information about the sculpture and heritage of the land with plaques and artwork for you to read and check out.

In order to access the Keeper, you’ll need to cross one of the two beautifully constructed bridges. Appearing as huge wired gateways to a sacred land. The west entrance is the parking lot of The Exploration Place, perfect for all ages with an interest in science, and on the east entrance, access to the famous “troll” that lurks under a grated path and just further down, the Wichita Veterans Memorial.

The area around the base of the Keeper is a winding path (accessible by wheelchair) with accents of trees, bushes, and flowers. At the bottom, a perfect view downstream with the city skyline as it’s background. Who knows, maybe you’ll even shed a tear at such a magnificent sight. Probably not. But you get the picture.

It’s typical, especially on beautiful days like this one, to see people in kayaks or paddle boats on the river. Stay out late enough and you will be treated to another fascinating part of the Keeper. The ceremonious lighting of the torches. I mean, what a sight. In all hours of the day you can hear the ominous music playing in the background but there’s just something about the sun setting, the lights kicking on and the the torches firing up that sets a whole mood altogether.

Photo credit: Drake Kirkwood

There is a sense of pride we Wichitans share when seeing the Keeper. After all, you can find it everywhere. People have it tattooed, incorporate it with business logos, and there are even smaller versions of it all over the city. It’s quite remarkable how iconic it has become.

Whether you are new to the area, visiting, or a long time resident, go visit the Keeper of the Plains.

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