Boomer Destinations: Wichita, Kansas

By Tim Trudell

From a guy who makes cowboy hats to handfeeding lemurs, a visit to Wichita offers a unique and fun experience.

Located about 5 hours south of Omaha on Interstate 35, Wichita’s attractions and culinary scene will keep you busy over a long weekend or weekday trip.

Hatman Jack’s

“Hatman to the Stars,” Jack Kellogg has created western-style hats for 50 years. He’s the go-to for Hollywood when actors, movies and television series need specially-made hats.

Located in the historic Delano district along the route of the Chisholm Trail, where longhorn cattle were herded from Texas to a few miles down the road, Hatman Jack’s offers premade toppings or, if you prefer, have your own hat created.

Public art

Wichita’s public art scene is second-to-none. From a downtown sculpture walk to dozens of murals, the city has created a must-see art scene.

Check out the statue of prohibition activist Carrie Nation, brandishing her infamous axe, standing outside the building where she once led her followers to destroy a saloon. Another sculpture depicts early civil rights protests when young black men sat at a lunch counter designated for whites only.

Military monuments along the Arkansas River honor soldiers, veterans and families from the Civil War to the Middle East.

Murals in the Douglas art district highlight the city’s history, as well as pop culture. Several murals incorporate the city’s magnificent flag design.

Museums

With several museums located along the Arkansas River, not only can you enjoy a nice walk riverside, but you can visit multiple attractions during the day.

Mid-America All-Indian Museum

The Mid-America All-Indian Museum provides a look at contemporary Native American art. Anchored by the works of Blackbear Bosin, a Kiowa/Comanche artist who moved from Oklahoma to work at a Boeing airplane plant, the museum’s 3,000-piece collection is rotated throughout the year, offering a variety of exhibits. Displays vary from drawings, sculptures and paintings to a look at commercial racism.

With flags from tribal nations from across the United States flying above the dance area, the museum hosts annual children’s powwows in its main arena.

Wichita Art Museum

Loaded with a 10,000-piece permanent collection, the Wichita Art Museum presents a variety of exhibits, ranging from classical European paintings to modern abstract impressionism, as well as sculptures. You’ll find colorful blown-glass art pieces by Dale Chihuly and even the oblong-designed Dangos by Omaha-based artist Jun Kaneko.
Exploration Place

Whether or not you have children along, consider a visit to Exploration Place, Wichita’s science museum. Aimed at people of all ages, you can visit a medieval castle, tour aircraft displays, and even view a miniaturized model of Kansas.

Kansas Aviation Museum

Located near the airport, the Kansas Aviation Museum covers several floors of a former municipal airport. The art deco terminal building traces air history in Wichita, including a look at the people who built the industry and the plants that have churned out aircraft of all types from civilian to military planes.

The outdoor aircraft display offers an up-close look at the city’s air history, with some of the planes open for self-guided tours.
B-29 ‘Doc’ Hangar Visitor Center

“Doc” was one of almost 1,650 B-29 Superfortress bombers built in Wichita during World War II. In 1987, the bomber was saved from an aircraft graveyard in the Mojave Desert and refurbished to flying status. The plane is on display at the B-29 Doc Hangar Visitor and Education Center, providing an interactive experience for history buffs. Other historical displays are also available at the center.

“Doc” is flown around the country, providing firsthand flight experiences for veterans and others interested in the flying museum.

Old Cowtown

As cowboys brought in the longhorn cattle, Wichita marked the end of the Chisholm Trail. Old Cowtown relives life in the mid-1800s as the living history museum features western business facades as well as early Wichita homes, including a log cabin and the first African American home in Kansas.

Stop in for a sarsaparilla at the local saloon or visit a friend at the jail. A general store reenacts life in the west, while the local barbershop also offered baths for a nickel.

The holiday season is a special experience with the buildings decorated for the season, dance performances at the saloon and a Victorian era Santa Claus roaming the boardwalk.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

Located in Goddard, the 51-acre Tanganyika Wildlife Park features 40 exhibits, 400 animals and nine animal encounters. Tanganyika grew from a private wildlife refuge to including a worldclass breeding program.

From feeding giraffes and pygmy hippos to lemurs, the park gives visitors up-close views of animals. The lorikeets exhibit ranks high with visitors, as the little colorful birds quickly land on visitors as they hold a small cup of a sweet liquid. They drink it while perched on a person’s hand, arm or shoulder.

Sedgwick County Zoo

While Tanganyika offers up-close animal encounters, Sedgwick County Zoo treats visitors to a trip around the world, with elephants, otters, lions and more as exhibits feature animals of Africa, Australia, North America and South America. Check out the gorilla exhibit, as well as the Asian cat trek.

Grab a ride on the Conservation Cruise and enjoy a 15-minute river trip with unique views as you float past Pelican Island and Downing Gorilla Forest to the Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley.

Allen House

Wichita’s College Hill was once the neighborhood of Wichita’s “finest” citizens. Henry and Elsie Allen hired famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design their new home. A two-hour tour takes you through the entire Allen House and its grounds, from the main entrance to a tea room designed for Mrs. Allen to entertain visitors.

The house is impressive – it is a Frank Lloyd Wright creation, after all – designed using a square as inspiration, with each room featuring the shape in furniture and design. From high-backed chairs to illustrate size, along with Japanese-style accents, Wright sought to ensure the Allens had a home they – and he – would be proud to live in. Wright had his own bedroom in the house, where he could sleep during visits to the area. He’s believed to have rearranged furniture and decor to fit his desires whenever he visited.

Keeper of the Plains

Wichita honors Native Americans with its Keeper of the Plains sculpture along the city’s riverfront. Designed by artist Blackbear Bosin, the sculpture was his gift to the city for the 1976 United States Bicentennial celebration.

The Keeper, as it’s locally known, stands at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers. The 44-foot tall sculpture of a Native American holding a ceremonial pipe has stood above the rivers since 1974.

Check out the nightly illumination show at the Keeper. Flames rise from its base shortly after sunset nightly. It’s a majestic view along the Arkansas River.

The Keeper has two walls of exhibits featuring artifacts, art and information regarding the history of tribes that once lived in the area.
Pizza Hut Museum
Brothers Frank and Dan Carney were students at Wichita State University as the pizza craze took off throughout the United States in the 1950s, so they decided it would be an easy way to fund their college educations.

They borrowed $600 from family and friends to start a small pizza business. You may know it as Pizza Hut. Yep, the original Pizza Hut was opened in Wichita. It was housed in a small building. The brothers had a sign that would hold only nine letters. They wanted Pizza in the name. An uncle supposedly suggested “Hut,” because he thought the small building resembled a hut. Thus, Pizza Hut was born.

The original building was moved to the university’s campus several years ago and is now a museum.

Botanica, The Wichita Gardens

With 20 acres, Botanica, as the Wichita Gardens are known, consists of almost 35 themed gardens with 4,000 plant species. From a rose garden to woodlands, a walk through Botanica is a nice nature break in the heart of the city. Check out the sculpture art, including an Asian dragon.

Field Station: Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs once roamed the Kansas plains. Nearly 90 million years later, more than 40 animatronic dinosaurs roar and move their heads and tails at Field Station: Dinosaurs.

With life-size dinosaurs, you’ll discover a flying Pteranodon, as well as a Tyrannosaurus-rex, appealing to any dino afficionado. The park includes dinosaurs discovered around the world, including several found in the Midwestern states of Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota.

Located in Derby (about an 18-minute drive southeast of Wichita), Field Station: Dinosaurs features dinosaurs discovered in the early 21st Century. The Dracorex Hogwartsia – named in honor of Hogwarts – was discovered in 2004 by amateur paleontologists in South Dakota. Scientists dubbed the dinosaur with the Harry Potteresque name because it resembles a mythical dragon. Anzu is an 11-foot tall birdlike two-legged creature that was found about 20 years ago in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. Its nickname is “Chicken from Hell.”

Of course, you’ll find standards, such as the brontosaurus and triceratops.

Old Town

Wichita’s vintage warehouse district has been resurrected into an entertainment and retail district, with Old Town featuring several outstanding restaurants, attractions and hotels.

Museum of World Treasures is a menagerie of museum-quality exhibits as well as pop culture displays. Travel through history with displays featuring dinosaurs and ancient Egyptians to an impressive military artifacts collection. You’ll even find shrunken heads.

Old Town is full of amazing restaurants, led by Public at the Brickyard. Located in the basement of a bricklaid building, Public’s menu features a stellar pickle plate, with an in-house created pickle platter, and prairie bison sliders. With delicious flatbread pizza, check out The Wiseguy, with Italian sausage, marinara, onion and peppers. Main entrees include spicy fried chicken and a tri-blend burger, made with chuck, brisket and filet.

Pumphouse, located in a converted gasoline station, offers a casual menu starring items such as burgers – led by the 8 oz. Pumphouse Burger with Kansas beef topped with romaine lettuce, pickles, purple onion and your choice of cheese – pizza, pasta, salads and sandwiches.

Retail outlets include clothing and decor boutiques, antique shops and art galleries.

Restaurants

From casual to upscale, Wichita’s culinary scene is second-to-none.

Homegrown

Founded in Wichita, Homegrown features homestyle breakfast and lunch using locally-sourced ingredients, such as cage-free eggs. Homegrown’s meals provide unique flavors you won’t find elsewhere.

Old Mill Tasty Shop

Old Mill Tasty Shop opened for business in the Old Town District in 1932. The sandwich shop is known for its old-fashioned soda fountain and founder Otto Woermke’s green chili. Enjoy a malt during your visit.

Meddys

A fast casual restaurant featuring a Mediterranean menu with items such as shawarmas, falafels and hummus, platters include Greek-seasoned potatoes. You can even enjoy a cocktail with your meal at Meddys.

6S Steakhouse

An upscale, yet casual, restaurant, 6S Steakhouse features a breathtaking interior decor with contemporary chandeliers and beautiful art. Its menu is heavy on steak – consider the Tomahawk steak to split for a special occasion – but there’s plenty of options, including seafood, chicken, pasta and salads.

Adelita’s Coffee Company

Featuring authentic Mexican and Latin coffees, Adelita’s Coffee Company offers a warm, inviting atmosphere celebrating its view of community and family. Adelita’s, located downtown, provides a relaxing respite or a fun spot to meet friends.

Accommodations

With Air BNBs and traditional bed and breakfast inns also available, consider staying at one of the downtown hotels, with easy access to area attractions.

Hotel at Old Town is a favorite. With reasonable rates, the hotel is located at Old Town and is a short walk or drive from riverfront attractions.

With an exquisite lobby area – plenty of comfortable chairs and sofas – enjoy complimentary coffee and relax or enjoy your well-designed guest room. The hotel includes pieces of Wichita history as its decor.

Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview is located along the Arkansas River. Classically designed, the vintage hotel is a step back in Wichita’s history. Comfortable guest rooms highlight your stay.

Conclusion

Whether it’s a long weekend or a weekday excursion, Wichita is loaded with historical and contemporary attractions. Enjoy a delicious meal after a fun day of exploring Kansas’ largest city.