The Keeper of the Plains — Attraction in Wichita

The Keeper of the Plains in Wichita Kansas: The Keeper of the Plains is a 44-foot tall, 5 ton steel sculpture erected where the Big and Little Arkansas rivers join together. The only thing it will cost you to visit is the time it takes to walk through the display and learn from it. It was sculpted by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin. He was an amazing artist who worked in a number of medias and you can see a lot of his works in the Mid America All Indian Museum which is near by. It was commissioned and designed for the United States bicentennial and he created it as a representation of the brotherhood of all Native Americans and communities of the plains. The Keeper of the Plains has burners around its base that are lit almost nightly depending on the weather. It was first erected in 1974. The walking bridges that lead you to the sculpture from either side of the two rivers are in the shape of bows and arrows. In the statues courtyard there is a wonderful explanation of the Indian way of life and beliefs that if just...

This experience is a must! Walking up to the keeper some music can be heard in the distance. It takes you getting closer to realize that the keeper actually has music playing around it. The land in between is also considered sacred which just adds onto the experience. The land sits in between where Little Arkansas and Big Arkansas river meet. It was a hot and humid day but the excitement of seeing the Keeper of the Plains just gave me the jump I needed. The walls around the keeper hold all the history of the place. I would advise also reading up online as well for more details. I went when the sun was overhead during a lunch break and would advise you go when it is much cooler. A point to note is that the ring of fire is not lit during the weekdays. My fellow travelers complained about having to wait for the ring of fire and nothing happened. I believe it is only lit on weekends at 7pm and 9pm. Unfortunately I did not stay over the weekend but I look forward to my next visit to Wichita so I can catch...

I enjoyed viewing the majestic Keeper of the Plains which is a steel sculpture by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin. Standing overlooking the the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers and is in front of the Mid-America All-Indian Center. Look for The Troll statue not far from the Keeper of the Plains.

There are informational displays which describe the local tribes that used to inhabit the area, as well as several fire pits that illuminate the statue at night. The fire pits, which are known as the Rings of Fire, which are lit one time a night and it only lasts for 15 minutes. I was not able to watch the fire pits burning, as I had another event I was attending simultaneously.

What a lovely spot in Wichita! Neat area that was alive with activity. There were kayakers on the river, people taking family photographs and other people being physically active. Great walkway and a beautiful view of the city. I was really impressed with the town. I had a nice...