The Keeper of the Plains is a 44-foot tall steel sculpture standing at the point where the Big and Little Arkansas rivers join together in downtown Wichita. This land between the two rivers is sacred ground to the Native American people, where the Wichita Indians settled after being forced to flee their Texas and Oklahoma homes. The American Indian sculpture was created by Wichitan and Native American artist Blackbear Bosin (1921-1980). This icon of Wichita was erected on May 18, 1974 to celebrate the United States Bi-centennial and has kept a watchful eye on the city ever since.
A complete renovation of the sculpture and installation of the Keeper of the Plains Plaza now brings people out each evening. The fire drums, known as the Ring of Fire, that surround the plaza at the Keeper’s base are lit for 15 minutes each night. There are also two suspended foot bridges allowing people to cross from the north and south directions to the plaza at the base of the Keeper. Part of the $20 million dollar river corridor improvement project, the statue can now be seen over the trees and buildings that have sprung up over the years along the river.
RING OF FIRE HOURS
The Ring of Fire around the Keeper of the Plains will burn for 15 minutes during the following schedule:
| Daylight Saving Time (spring & summer) | 9 p.m. |
| Standard Time (fall & winter) | 7 p.m. |