With roots in “cowtown” and a modern look
The name “Cowtown” came to the state’s biggest city in the late 1800s, when cattlemen used the Chisholm Trail to bring their herds to the city so they could easily get to the trains. Wichita has changed a lot since then, but some things still remind people of its farming roots. The world-class city has more than 1,000 restaurants, eight shopping areas, and a huge number of attractions, theaters, and festivals. It also has some very interesting historic museums.
A Look Back at the Past
The Old Cowtown Museum is an outdoor living history show where you can learn what it was like to live in a town in the Old West. People who worked in the aviation business, like Walter Beech and Clyde Cessna, came to Wichita because of the money from oil. More than half of all U.S. planes are now made in Wichita. You can learn about the early aviators at the Kansas Aviation Museum. The Keeper of the Plains Plaza, the Kansas African American Museum, and the Mid-American All-Indian Center all show the city’s rich history.
An advanced arts scene
This city has a lot going on in the arts world. Like opera? Get passes to see a performance by the Wichita Grand Opera. The opera often has performances by famous artists. A lot of people go to Music Theatre Wichita’s Broadway-style shows every summer. The Wichita Symphony Orchestra plays both classical and popular music. You can also see a show by the skilled dancers at Ballet Wichita or look at the art at the Wichita Art Museum.
Going shopping, eating, and seeing sights
The shops in Clifton Square and Historic Delano District have a wide range of items that you can buy as gifts or as memories. Visit the Botanica grounds, the Tanganyika Wildlife Park or the Sedgwick County Zoo to get close to nature. The zoo is home to more than 2,500 animals. Livability.com named Wichita a “Top 10 Surprising Foodie City” because it has so many great restaurants serving both local and foreign food, as well as specialty coffee shops and great breweries and wineries.