Past, Present, & Future

Wichita is Kansas' largest city filled with significant aviation and western heritage, arts and culture, entrepreneurs, festivals, and places to dine, shop, and play. The city is also noted for its breathtaking sunsets, beautiful weather, friendly residents, remarkable affordability, and ease of getting around.

Once you discover Wichita"s rich history, everything it has to offer now and in the near future, you'll find yourself in Wichita!

Wichita's History

Wichita served as a trading center and meeting place for 11,000 years for nomadic people, but it wasn't until 1863 that the first permanent settlement of Wichita Indians was recorded. Shortly after, J.R. Mead became the first white settler when he opened a trading post, and established the area as a base for the Chisholm Trail.

By 1870, Wichita was incorporated as a city, and a destination for cattle drives from Texas from whence it derived its nickname, "Cowtown." When the cattle trade moved west to take advantage of the construction of rail lines, Wichita fell on hard times. However, the city bounced back in the 1890s as grain began to more than equal the wealth formerly brought by cattle to become a trade and milling center.

The population of Wichita nearly doubled in 1918 after a great oil reserve was discovered nearby. In turn, the oil money allowed local entrepreneurs to invest in the up and coming airplane industry. Men like Lloyd Stearman, Walter Beech, and Clyde Cessna brought the industry to the area, and during World War II it was the major manufacturing center for airplanes needed in the war effort. Wichita remains the center for the aircraft industry, the "Air Capital of the World," producing 70% of U.S. general aviation aircraft.

The entrepreneurial spirit of those great pioneers continued to thrive in Wichita with other businesses like Coleman, White Castle, Pizza Hut, Big Dog Motorcycles, and Koch Industries.

Wichita Today

Today, Wichita has grown into an eclectic city with some of the greatest arts and entertainment in the Midwest. It is a destination with something for everyone!

Experience what Wichita is best known for, its western heritage. Enjoy great western family entertainment and all-you-can-eat Bar-B-Que at the Diamond W Chuckwagon Supper featuring the Diamond W Wranglers and step back in time and explore America's most authentic "Old West" town at Old Cowtown Museum, an outdoor, living history museum. Then dress the part of a true Wrangler® when you shop at Shepler's, the largest western wear store in the world.

The city also attracts the talents of famous artists including Pavarotti and Broadway productions. Discover the talents of local and national artists at the Music Theatre of Wichita, Wichita Grand Opera, and the Wichita Symphony Society. You can also take in the significant works of public art located throughout city along with an internationally-renowned collection of American art at the Wichita Art Museum.

Wichita is home to one of the country's top zoos, the Sedgwick County Zoo, with 2,500 animals of nearly 500 different species. The animals are not the only great attraction in Wichita, the museums are also world-class. Encounter hands-on exhibits at Exploration Place, the city's premier science center, or explore the history of the world at the Museum of World Treasures. Take a stroll through the fragrant gardens of Botanica, the Wichita Gardens. Delve into the "Air Capital's" rich aviation history at the Kansas Aviation Museum or uncover the wonderful heritage at the Kansas African American Museum and the Mid-American All-Indian Center including the city's symbol, the Keeper of the Plains. The Keeper represents the city's Indian heritage and was part of a riverfront beautification project that now elevates the newly restored sculpture an additional 30 feet. It is surrounded by rings of fire and is accessible by suspension bridges.

For sports lovers, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame reminisces about the area's great athletes; however, you can experience the action live at Lawrence Dumont Stadium with the Wichita Wingnuts baseball team or the Wichita Thunder hockey team at the Kansas Coliseum. Join in the fun at All Star Sports, the Wichita Ice Center, or one of the 21 golf courses in the area.

The city's nightlife is just as active in Old Town. Old Town is the site for specialty shops, restaurants, and many of our nightclubs. Also located in Old Town, is one of three Warren Theatres, world-class motion picture theatres offering the finest facilities, reminiscent of the movie palaces of years gone by.

The celebrating continues with the city's cultural arts and heritage festivals throughout the year. The nine-day Wichita River Festival, in May, is the largest special event in the state of Kansas. In the fall, the Wichita Flight Festival celebrates our claim to the "Aviation Capital of the World," and The Tallgrass Film Festival showcases independent films. Our Cinco de Mayo Celebration in May is a fiesta commemorating our Hispanic heritage. Other events include the Wichita Black Arts Festival which is held in September along with one of the nation's largest Native American Pow-Wows. Additionally, you can experience the best in Kansas' agriculture, culinary delights, carnival rides and fun at the Kansas State Fair.

This is just a small taste of everything Wichita has to offer today, what the future holds will make the city even bigger and better.

Wichita's Future

In 2009, the nation's newest WaterWalk district and amphitheater will open. The WaterWalk will include business offices and residential apartments, entertainment venues and retail stores.

And the latest project, the INTRUST Bank Arena, will be a world-class entertainment venue located in downtown Wichita by 2010. It will become the home to the Wichita Thunder Hockey team, concerts, family shows and other entertainment.

The future of Wichita will not only physically expand the city, but also the ability to host and create more signature cultural and heritage events.