Wichita Urban Native History Tour

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Wichita Urban Native History Tour

Wichita, Kansas 67203, United States

Created By: Wichita History Walk

Tour Information

Take a tour of Wichita's Urban Native History! This tour commemorates the significant contributions of the many indigenous people who called Wichita home. From art to aviation, Native Americans played many roles in the cultural landscape of our community.

Each stop may have more than one picture. Swipe to the left to see more photos when available, and tap photos to enlarge and zoom. This tour is set to free roam, which means you may visit stops in any order.


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What You'll See on the Tour

In 1968, Kansas Gas and Electric (KG&E) had a problem. They had built an addition near the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers and the area needed beautification. Since KG&E wanted to focus on American Indian heritage i... Read more
Although Wichita was once the home of tribes such as the Wichita, Kiowa, and Osage prior to European settlement in the late 19th Century, many of the Native Americans that make up what we now consider the “urban natives” of present-day ... Read more
The confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers has been a crucial gathering place for Indigenous peoples for centuries prior to European contact. Jesse Chisholm, of half Cherokee descent, having first visited the area in 1826, establ... Read more
Blackbear Bosin, a celebrated Native American artist of Kiowa and Comanche descent, played a crucial role in Kansas’ artistic landscape. His Wichita studio spaces served as hubs for his prolific output and his dedication to elevating Nati... Read more
For over 130 years, the site and surrounding area now occupied by Riverfront Stadium has been a pivotal venue for baseball in Wichita, with a rich history of hosting Native American players. This enduring legacy emphasizes the significant r... Read more
In 1948, the Hotel Broadview added an event space called the Crystal Ballroom. In 1958, hotel president R. C. McCormick commissioned Blackbear Bosin, noted local artist of Kiowa and Comanche descent, to design and craft a mosaic that would ... Read more
The Wichita Federal Courthouse is a site of profound historical significance, especially concerning an event tied to the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the 1970s. This incident and the subsequent legal proceedings underscore the era's he... Read more
1968 marked a pivotal year in Native American history with President Lyndon Johnson’s proposal to end the termination policy. The termination policy was a federal initiative originating in the 1940s that aimed to dissolve Tribal sovereign... Read more
Chief Charles Shunatona, born in 1917 on the Otoe Reservation near Red Rock, Oklahoma, was a prominent figure in both his community and beyond. Before moving to Wichita in 1941 to work for Boeing and subsequently being drafted, he attended ... Read more
In the 1970s, there were estimated to be around 3,000 Native Americans living in the Wichita area, representing various tribal affiliations. However, little was known about their general well-being. No official surveys or studies were condu... Read more
In late May to early June 1927, a caravan of Wichitas traveled back to Wichita, Kansas, to erect a council lodge on the little island just south of 13th street. According to papers at the time, the visit was coordinated by the Indian Histor... Read more
This prominent location is an integral part of Wichita’s history. Since it opened in 1929, North High was known for its distinctive design highlighted by Native American and pioneer sculptures. The Minisa Bridge was built in 1932, and als... Read more
Jesse Chisholm, of Cherokee and Scottish descent, was a guide, interpreter, treaty facilitator, and humanitarian for Indigenous Americans. Chisholm is also the owner of Wichita’s first business: a trading post. Jesse Chisholm’s trading ... Read more
Native American artist Woodrow Wilson “Woody“ Crumbo was known throughout the world as an amazing artist, musician and ceremonial dancer. Throughout Crumbo’s lifetime, he was continuously honored for his ability to capture and express... Read more
The Henry Roe Cloud Indian School, originally named the Roe Indian Institute and later the American Indian Institute, holds a significant place in Wichita's history and the broader story of Native American education. Founded by Reverend Hen... Read more
“Getting off the earth and soaring through the heavens is the greatest thrill of all”   -- “Chief” Bowhan   Wichita aviation was booming in the early 1920s, and Francis Bowhan was at the heart of the scene. Bowhan marketed his O... Read more
Nestled 6 miles west of Douglas and Main and 2 miles south of what is now Cannonball Road (Maple), within the vicinity of Pawnee Prairie and the Sedgwick County Conservation Parks, the 240-acre Grandview farm stood as a testament to innovat... Read more

 

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