The Midwestern town of Wichita, Kansas, has a rich past by both historical and pop culture standards. Here are some interesting facts you might not know about the city.
1. It Hosts Some Interesting Treasures
Paleontology and movie buffs alike will be interested to learn that Wichita is home to some very notable treasures. A prop pitchfork from MGM’s The Wizard of Oz and one of the most complete skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus Rex ever found are located at the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita. The skeleton is known as “Ivan” and is from South Dakota. About 70% of the bones were recovered.
For animal lovers, head to the Sedgwick County Zoo. This zoo is home to live treasures – more than 2,500 animals – making it one of the largest in the nation.
2. White Castle was Founded Here
In 1921, Walter Anderson and Edgar Waldo Ingram spent $700 to finance and open the first White Castle restaurant. A mere two years later, they launched the world’s first burger chain by opening restaurants in El Dorado, KS, and Omaha, NA. Interesting to note is that in 1938 the franchise decided there would no longer be any White Castle restaurants in Kansas.
3. The City’s Flag Is Symbolic
The city flag for Wichita was designed in 1937. The colors and design each represent an important aspect of what the city stands for. The red stripes represent honor, the white stripes represent courage, the blue sun represents happiness, and the white circle stands for home. The colors and imagery together inform people that they may come and go as they please.
4. It Was Home to Several Famous Residents
Wichita was home to Hank Ketcham’s character Dennis from Dennis the Menace. In 1990, the author revealed that the character’s house was a two-story home in Wichita’s outskirts. In 1943, NFL Hall of Famer, Gale Sayers, was born in the city. Although his 7-year-long career was brief by pro football standards, he became the NFL’s all-time leader in kickoff returns by the time he retired in 1972. The infamous outlaw Billy the Kid was born in Wichita to Catherine McCarty. He was known as Henry growing up.
Kirstie Alley, the actress who played the role of Rebecca Allen on Cheers, was born in Wichita in 1951. Another famous resident was Dana Warren, 2008 Guinness World Records holder for making the largest stitched teddy bear in the world. The massive bear is 55.4-inches long.
5. Cattlemen Were Drawn to It
A branch of the Santa Fe railroad was established in Wichita in 1827, making it a prime destination for cattlemen. The cattlemen would drive their cattle to town from Texas and in 1873 almost 70,000 bovines were shipped out of the Wichita via the railroad. The city tried to cash in on this influx of visiting cowboys by posting marketing signs for products and activities along the highways and trails.
Next time you’re playing trivia, amaze your friends with these interesting facts about Wichita, Kansas.
Image via Flickr by KSRE Photo
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