‘Party for the People’ Saturday celebrates 50 years of the Keeper of the Plains

Stephanie Nutt
·2 min read

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Mid-America All-Indian Museum is hosting “Party for the People” from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. this Saturday, May 18, at the Museum, 650 N. Seneca, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Keeper of the Plains.

The statue, a beloved landmark and tourist attraction in Wichita, was installed on May 18, 1974.

The party on Saturday will be a free, family-friendly celebration with a re-dedication of the Keeper of the Plains sculpture, a park run, an indoor powwow, Native performances, art exhibits, food trucks, outdoor games and activities, exhibits from community partners, fireworks, and more. During the powwow, guests can explore the Museum’s galleries for free from 2 to 8 p.m.

Schedule of events:

  • 1-1:30 p.m. — Keeper re-dedication ceremony and opening remarks

  • 1-5 p.m. — Keeper Kids Zone, outdoor festival, food trucks, and community partners

  • 1-5 p.m. — Native performances featuring Brandon Buffalohead on the flute, actor and singer AJ Harvey, powwow dancers, and more

  • 1-8 p.m. — Native Elders Council concession sales

  • 1-8 p.m. — Free Arkansas River rides from the SS Waterwagon – hop aboard near the Douglas Street bridge

  • 2-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. — Powwow indoors and free museum admission

  • 4:30 p.m. — Indian taco sale

  • 9 p.m. — Fireworks over the river to Native beats. Catch the view from the museum’s back grounds.

“Your support of this milestone event will communicate a meaningful message to our community and will remind everyone of what we can achieve when we work together,” April Scott, Mid-America All-Indian Museum director, said.

A schedule of events can be found on the museum’s Facebook page.

DA: Wichita pawnbroker failed to return property

MAAIM’s Bosin Society is named for Blackbear Bosin, the Kiowa-Comanche artist who was the creator of Wichita’s iconic Keeper of the Plains as well as one of the original founders of the Indian Museum. Bosin was initially commissioned by Elmer Hall of Kansas Gas and Electric in 1968 to design a statue for the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers but due to funding issues, the project stalled. With help from the City, State and community fundraising efforts led by the Quivira Council of Boy Scouts of America and through the hard work and generosity of Architectural Metal Products, the Keeper was completed and installed on May 18, 1974.

Over the years, the Keeper has become one of the most iconic symbols of Wichita. In 2006, a City of Wichita built the Keeper Plaza and bridges, elevating the Keeper on a 30-foot-tall rock surrounded by a ring of fire pots. The sculpture is a local landmark and one of the most-visited attractions in Wichita.”

City of Wichita

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.