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Kansas Attractions

Be In Awe Of The Elegant Craftsmanship And History Behind The Keeper Of The Plains Statue In Kansas

By Clarisa | Published August 05, 2020

Up for a trip to Wichita, anyone? Odds are if you’ve been through ICT, you’ve seen the Keeper of the Plains statue standing tall at Riverside. However, we’ve heard some Kansans have never gone up to see what it’s all about! We promise it’s not just a statue, there’s much more here than you can see from a distance.

The figure you see in the distance? That's the Keeper of the Plains, a statue that stands tall in the Riverside area of Wichita.

Standing 44 feet tall, this steel sculpture was created by Blackbear Bosin, a Kiowa-Comanche native and lit from below during the night to remain a symbol.

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In the surrounding area are multiple displays with information describing local tribes from the Wichita area.

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A quick run down of some of the First Peoples core beliefs also are found across Riverside, from the local park to here at the Keeper.

At night, bonfires are lit to surround the statue with a ring of fire. It's quite striking, and a cool way to enjoy a night in Wichita.

During standard time, the fires are lit at 7 p.m. for 15 minutes. During Daylight Savings time, it's lit at 9 p.m. also for 15 minutes. Of course, this is dependent on local weather and river levels, as well as anyone crossing the ropes to get closer to the fires.

Come down sometime, enjoy the bonfires and the information, and look for the sneaky troll hiding under the ground.

To learn more about the keeper, check out the official Visit Wichita website.

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Featured Addresses

The Keeper of the Plains, 339 Veterans Pkwy, Wichita, KS 67203, USA