On May 18, 1974 a ceremony took place to dedicate the Keeper, which was designated as a Wichita Bicentennial project. The project will be rededicated to the community on the 33rd anniversary of that Bicentennial project date.

The 5-ton sculpture was placed at the confluence of the little and big Arkansas Rivers, which is considered a sacred site by Native Americans and was home to the Wichita tribe for many years.

Project Timeline

Wichita was founded over 100 years ago at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers.

The City of Wichita’s first Comprehensive Plan, prepared in 1923, detailed the importance of confluence of the River and its potential to provide a entertainment area for citizens of Wichita that would include trails, parks, and interesting spaces.

Later, in 1967, the River Corridor Study recognized ways in which the River would be utilized to enhance the entire community, especially the downtown area west to Sycamore as well as other proposals that would encourage relationships of the west side of the River Core area.

On April 16, 1974, the Wichita City Commission, in unprecedented action, approved a $2-million bond issue to construct and equip a unique design by Shaeffer-Schirmer, professional architects, for a Mid-America All-Indian Center building.

May 18, 1974 - the Keeper of the Plains statue was donated to the citizens of Wichita.

Blackbear Bosin gift to the city of his remarkable sculpture Keeper of the Plains had made headlines. It was erected at the peninsular point of the two rivers and dedicated May 18, 1974. Senator Bob Dole was on hand for the dedication.

The west bank was always a target for improvement because there was not as much development that had happened as there was on the east bank.

The “Development Plan for Downtown Wichita,” a visioning process completed by national urban planning firm RTKL, was formally adopted in 1989 by the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and City Council. Often referred to as the “RTKL Plan,” it served as a conceptual guide for River improvements.

One proposal within this plan, called the “DeBoer Plan” after the author, local Wichitan Jack DeBoer, suggested elevating the Keeper of the Plains 155 feet high.

In June 1999 the Council authorized Law/Kingdon to provide architectural services associated with riverbank project. The firm developed the Wichita River Corridor Improvement Plan that was later approved by the City Council. This Plan outlined various components of the project – extending from Kellogg to just beyond Old Cowtown Museum.

In 2001, the Council approved the HNTB Corporation design of two cable-stayed pedestrian bridges linking the Keeper of the Plains to both the east and west banks of the river, crossing the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers.

The River Corridor Improvement Project was considered to be one of the most significant redevelopment projects for the City of Wichita that remained on the list of “projects yet to do.”

On December 30, 2003, the City Council approved moving forward with the River Corridor Project. This was Chris Cherches' last day as City Manager, and this was his last project. His name will be on the project plaque.

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