Wichita, KS

The City of Wichita grew from trading posts set up at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers in the late 1800s. The "Keeper of the Plains" still stands watch from this spot where the rivers flow together. There are lots of parks and museums in this area, and we visited several, including the Mid-America All-Indian Center Museum.

Brick-lined streets, historic buildings and lampposts, good restaurants and informative signage make up Wichita's Old Town. It's set where the old warehouse district was located, not far from the Santa Fe and Rock Island railroad tracks. The original names are still visible on a number of buildings (see below).

"The Keen Kutter brand of tools was created in 1879 by E.C. Simmons of St. Louis, MO, a pioneer in the use of catalogues as a major sales tool. The tool manufacturer was owned by Morton-Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis, MO and sold tools throughout the country. Today, the building has been restored to a 115-room hotel in the heart of Old Town, with the façade and distinctive brick tower true to their original form." --Credit: Historical information excerpted from Wichita Century (Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 1969) and the City of Wichita Historic Preservation Office.

One night we saw the new Pirates of the Caribbean at the Warren Theater. It's a regular movie theatre with extra wide aisles and a call button on the seat to summon a waitress to bring a fresh salad, pizza, cold beer (in an actual glass), or more traditionally more popcorn and candy.

For some additional photos, Click HERE.