One change to this year’s tours is the fact that they now depart from CityArts, located in Old Town Square at 334 N. Mead. Previously, they departed from the Wichita Boathouse, but Water Walk construction made it necessary to re-route the tours. The main tours will still cover the same amount of time, approximately 1-½ hour tour, and the same amount of historic buildings in Wichita, at 30 different locations.

Local volunteer and historian, Sharon Mallory, helped develop the program and personally researched and scripted each tour, as well as trained each docent to make the experience of stepping back in time more realistic. "Wichita’s history is incredible and many people do not know it. Even if they have lived here all of their life, they simply do not know Wichita’s rich history," said Mallory. "I want to make sure our heritage continues to live on and with each tour, I’m giving them a piece of it to carry on," she said.

This is the fifth year for trolley tours. New this year is the addition of three theme tours that focus on Public Art; Proudfoot, Bird & Wright Architectural Tour; and Frank Lloyd Wright/Allen Lamb Interior Tour. Each tour will follow the theme that the name suggests. The FLW/Allen Lambe Tour includes a stop at the famous architect’s home and a full tour. That particular tour includes the museum’s admission in the price so the charge is $18 for adults. Additional theme tours that returned this year are the Outdoor Sculpture Tour and Architectural Tour. All theme tours are given on alternate Saturdays at noon.

Passengers can enjoy Wichita and relax on the replica-19th Century American Heritage Streetcar trolley that features more room and air-conditioning. Wichita’s two newest trolleys will be dedicated to the tours. Trips last approximately 1-½ hours and travel by some of Wichita’s most distinguished historic neighborhoods and establishments. All trolleys are ADA compliant, and wheel-chair accessible.

Tours run Thursdays and Fridays at 10 AM; Saturday 10 AM and noon during the summer months of June 2 through September 3. Reservations are requested, but not required. Trolleys do fill up, as there is a 25-passenger capacity. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors and youth and children under 6 are free. Group tours available. For information or reservations, call 462-2787 or visit www.wichita.gov.

Some History Lessons Learned On the Tour From Past Participants…

1. I can’t believe that there are homes in Wichita that were purchased from the Sears catalog!
   (Note: The home is located near Friends University)

2. Carrie Nation broke up the bar in Wichita? Yes, Carrie Nation, the famed prohibitionist, busted up the drinking establishment at the Eaton Hotel.

3. Century II was designed by an architect that studied under Frank Lloyd Wright.

4. Lawrence-Dumont Stadium is one of the 15 oldest baseball stadiums still in use in professional baseball.

5. Finally, an explanation of why there is a "East side" vs. "West side" mentality in Wichita! (Delano was thought of us being rough, with prostitution, drinking and gambling. East side was not.)

6. Present-day College Hill stands on the original site of the Wichita Country Club.

7. The historic houses in north Wichita have a secret connecting tunnel underneath.

8. There was an impressive list of performers that came to Wichita to take the stage at the Orpheum Theatre, including Elvis Presley and "Gypsy" Lee Rose.

9. Wyatt Earp started his career in Wichita.

10. Some of Wichita’s Aviation heroes started Travel Air in the Delano District.

And that’s not all there is so much more! Take a tour to find out!

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