Keeper of the Plains From the Sky

Keeper of the Plains From the Sky

The Keeper of the Plains From the Sky : Keeper of the Plains North Seneca Street, Wichita, Kansas, United States The Keeper of the Plains is a 44 ft sculpture by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin. It stands at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers in Wichita, Kansas. Surrounding the base of the statue are multiple displays which describe the local tribes that used to inhabit this area. The Keeper of the Plains stands at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers with hands raised in supplication to the Great Spirit. Since the sculpture's installation in 1974 to commemorate the United States Bicentennial, it has become a symbol for the city of Wichita and a tribute to the Native American tribes who continue to gather at this sacred site. The Keeper also serves as the focal point of an eight-year, $20 million restoration and river beautification project completed in May 2007.The 44-foot Cor-Ten steel Keeper of the Plains sculpture now stands elevated on a 30-foot rock promontory, surrounded by a plaza which describes the Plains Indian way of life. Pedestrians can access the area via two bow-and-arrow-inspired cable-stay bridges which span the Little and Big Arkansas rivers. Fire drums on boulders at the foot of the Keeper dramatically light the night. Plantings of sage, bottlebrush, medicinal herbs, prairie grasses, yuccas and cactus add to the sense of place and time.Renowned Native American artist Blackbear Bosin donated the Keeper of the Plains to the citizens of Wichita in 1974. It was erected at the junction of the two rivers and dedicated May 18, 1974, with Senator Bob Dole on hand for the dedication. The renovated Keeper of the Plains was dedicated on May 18, 2007. The area is free and open to the public year-round. www.wichita.gov DHTV digital