The Keeper of the Plains

When I think about Wichita Kansas, I think about the Indian heritage that we have here. You can see it all through out Wichita, but the first thing that comes to my attention is the sculpture called The Keeper of the Plains. The sculpture was built in 1974. It has since become one of Wichita's most recognized symbols. The 5-ton sculpture was placed in between the little and big Arkansas Rivers where the two rivers meet, which is considered a very sacred place by the Native Americans and was home to Wichita tribes for many years. This sculpture stands up 44-feet high. It’s made out of Cor-ten steel which increases the resistance to atmospheric corrosion because the steel forms a protective layer on its surface under the influence of weather. In the Spring/Summer of 2006 project was remodeled and the sculpture was elevated on a 30-foot slab of rock, so that it can be seen for miles. Surrounding the base of the sculpture are little displays that describe the local tribes that used to live in the area. The sculpture is surrounded by four quadrants representing the elements of water, fire, air and earth. The fire comes from the fire pits that they installed in the river around the monument, so that the fire would illuminate the sculpture it at night.