Wichita Attractions

by jsballway - May 09, 2008

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St. Mary's Cathedral

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, better known as St. Mary’s Cathedral, had its 90th anniversary in 2002. One of the oldest Catholic Churches in Wichita, the entire city participated in its dedication with a public reception and a parade. Since then, it has remained a vital part of the Catholic community, and has undergone many renovations. A few of the more noteworthy are:

1920: Cathedral School is built a few blocks east of the Cathedral
1922: A gymnasium and community rooms are added on to the school building
1923: A new chancery and rectory building is built, allowing the former one to become a convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph teachers
1927: Stained glass windows are added to the ambience of the Cathedral
1936: The Cathedral is frescoed
1997: The most recent addition of bronze entrace doors depicting the “heroes” of the Kansas church and bronze handles shaped as doves depicting the Holy Spirit

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Wichita Public Library

The first public library in Wichita was housed in the Greiffenstein building beginning in 1877. It has expanded to include nine branches, has a summer reading program for youth that reaches over 10,000 children annually, and offers programs free of charge to the public.

Central Library, 223 S Main
Lionel D. Alford Branch Library, 3447 S. Meridian
Maya Angelou Northeast Branch Library, 3051 E 21st St
Comotara Branch Library, Inside Dillons Market at 2244 N Rock Rd
Evergreen Branch Library, 2601 N Arkansas
Linwood Park Branch Library, 1901 S Kansas
Orchard Park Branch Library, 4808 W 9th
Ford Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E 9th
Westlink Branch Library, 8515 Bekemeyer

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College Hill Homes and Architecture

College Hill covers nearly a one square mile section of Wichita, and is located east of the downtown area and south of Wichita State University. The neighborhood boasts many different architectual styles throughout history, including Craftsman, Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Prairie, Italian Renaissance, French and Spanish Eclectics, Classical, and Neo-Classical. It is also home to the Wichita Community Theatre, one of the oldest and most established of the community theatres in the United States. Beyond the perfomances held there, College Hill also houses 7 seasonal events and celebrations, including:

Winter Luminary Festival and Trolley Tour
Halloween Night on Broadview St
Easter Egg Hunt and Parade
Family Picnic and Fun Fair
College Hill Pool Parties
Ocotberfest at the Blessed Sacrament
The Oyster Dinner at St. James

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Century II Performance Arts & Convention Center

Century II was built as a civic center in 1969 to replace the older, more deteriorated structures along the riverfront. Four halls (Concert, Convention, Exhibition, and Bob Brown Expo) and the Mary Jane Teall Theatre are housed in the building. In 1997, the Hyatt Regency was built with a connecting lobby to the convention center, adding the appeal of sleeping rooms to the available space.

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Public Art

Outside of the building are many stunning statues, all but one of which are bronze.

The Babysitter (a woman with a child on her shoulders) is located on the top of the water wall stairs south of the building at the Hyatt Regency.
Freedom’s Stand (an eagle at rest), Future of America — Children at Play, and Promise of America (an immigrant boy beginning his journey) reside east of Century II near the Wichita Public Library.
Hardship and Dreams (a pioneer woman and her child) Interrupted Flight, and a Sun Dial, rest in A. Price Woodard Park, west of Century II.
Between Bob Brown Expo Hall and Concert Hall is Jester.
On the northwest side of the building is the only non-bronze statue, Tripodal.

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Performing Arts

Music Theatre of Wichita was formed in 1972 and is the largest subscribed non-profit arts organization in the state of Kansas.
Wichita Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1944 and is the largest arts organization in Kansas.
Wichita Grand Opera began performing at Century II in 2002. Only two shows remain for the 2008 Opera Season: Pirates of Penzance in May and June, and the July 4th Gala Concert.
Wichita Theatre Organ, Inc purchased the Wurlitzer pipe organ from the Paramount Theatre in New York in 1967. Built in 1926, the organ was used to provide ambience for silent movies until “talking movies” began production. When the Paramount closed its doors in 1964, it was transferred to California until finally being purchased for the new civic center in Wichita.

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Sedgwick County Historical Museum

The Pioneer Society, founded in 1919 by Mrs. George Whitney, created the first Wichita-themed museum by collecting artifacts and housing them in the Sedgwick County Courthouse.Over the next 70 years, many changes occurred to create a building that is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1938 the Wichita Public Museum was established, moving the collection from the courthouse to the Forum in 1939.
1955 the artifacts were combined with those of Mrs. Cyrus M. Beachy inside her home on East Douglas.
1979 the museum was moved to the City Building after almost two decades of negotiations and renovations. The building was designated as a historic landmark in 1975, and a lease was signed by the museum association the following year.

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Exhibits

Wichita: The Magic City
- The story of Wichita’s early years, from the time of the Native American tribe who lent its name to the city to the early 20th century.
Spirit of Wichita
- Tales and trinkets from the people who made Wichita what it is today.
Jones Six
- A retro garage setting with one of the few remaining Jones Automotives.
A Wichita Cottage
- An 1890 Victorian house depicting the home of a middle class family.

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