Wichita
Wichita is a very confused city. They don't know whether to call themselves a "cow town" or the "air capital of the world". So we go there to find out.
On the road from Missouri into Kansas
OMG! No more corn fields or soy beans. Just a lot of open range
The french coined the word "prairie" meaning lawn or meadow
And a few trees
Some cattle
Then to Wichita.The city began as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail in the 1860s and was incorporated in 1870. It subsequently became a destination for cattle drives north from Texas to railroads, earning it the nickname "Cow town"
Old Cow town museum is a town of old buildings moved to the bank of the Arkansas river to depict the 1860s and 1870s. About 70% were built during that era.
This Frederick Remington statue "Coming Through the Rye" is out front.
The Arkansas River with downtown Wichita in the background
some pictures that were along the trail leading to Old Cow town
The first building you see in Cow town is the Heller Cabin.
The museum hired a construction crew to move the cabin to its present site using tools and materials of the era it was built.
What it doesn't say here, He was a half breed as they were called then.
Another view of the cabin
Catherine McCartney was the only woman to sign the charter. She owned the laundry business and had two sons. One was later know as Billy the Kid.
The railroad gets longer and Wichita becomes the last town on the Chisholm Trail
Wyatt Earp went on to be a peace officer in Dodge City and Tombstone
Two views of the main street thru town
A trappers cabin
The carpentry shop (front view 3rd picture back far left)
pedal saw
another street scene
Newspaper
Editors desk
Boxes of type
Printing press
part of the press
the Mortuary
The hearse
Cathy needed a break
The barbershop
The seats looked comfortable
the bath tub
The drug store
drugs
drugs
more drugs
and alcohol
they even sold Florida Water.
I never figured out this one, but maybe they wanted bottled water way back then.
Another side street
Fritz Snitzler's Saloon
The bar
The stage, singers and dancers were to be here later
dining room
I would definitely eat there
Calendar on the wall
and canned lobster
There is a working farm there but it was very hot and no shade in between. We decided to skip the farm
The Marshall's Office
A lot of money back then
Yet another street
The train station, the reason this was a stop on the Chisholm Trail
Had to have a livery stable
lots of transportation wagons
Lots of houses. Remember, 70% were built during the 1860s and 1870s and I only showed about 30% of the buildings. This is a very large authentic "Old Town".
Now, on to "The Air Capital"
The building was the former Wichita Municipal Airport terminal from 1935 to 1951.
The building houses the Air Capitol Hall of Fame
Walter Herschel Beech
Amelia Earhart
Clyde Vernon Cessna
William P. Lear Sr.
Lloyd C. Stearman
plus many other aviation pioneers had some sort of roots here
Some of the aircraft that have been built here
Boeing B-52 Bomber
Boeing 737
Beech U-8
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
Republic F-84F Thunderjet
Boeing B-47 Stratojet
Lear Jet
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Beechcraft Starship 2000 Twin Turboprop Pusher
Cessna Executive Aircraft
Some companies did not last very long
One of five Watkins Skylarks built
Steerman Model 73 Trainer
Said to be the plane that built Wichita.
Boeing's history started in Wichita when Steerman moved there in 1927. In 1929 they merged with Boeing.
Mooney
Laird Swallow
These are only a representative of the aircraft in the Museum and the ones built in Wichita.
So, which it it? Cow town or Air Capitol
The museum hired a construction crew to move the cabin to its present site using tools and materials of the era it was built.
Another view of the cabin
hand turned circular saw
the Mortuary
I never figured out this one, but maybe they wanted bottled water way back then.
Different types of meat and cheese
including fresh oysters
Why is Wichita the Air Capital of the World? In the 1920s and '30s, businessmen and aeronautical engineers established aircraft manufacturing companies in Wichita, including Beechcraft, Cessna, and Stearman Aircraft. The city became a U.S. aircraft production hub and became known as "TheAir Capital of the World".
The city of Wichita produces more than 30 percent of the world's general aviation aircraft, earning the city the title of “Aviation Capital of the World.” Approximately 53 percent of Wichita's manufacturing employment is related to the aviation/aerospace industry.
The building houses the Air Capitol Hall of Fame
plus many other aviation pioneers had some sort of roots here
Lear Jet
Said to be the plane that built Wichita.
Boeing's history started in Wichita when Steerman moved there in 1927. In 1929 they merged with Boeing.
So, which it it? Cow town or Air Capitol
Comments