Blog / Wichita Facts

5 Interesting Things You Might Not Know About Wichita

October 04, 2019 · 3 min read

A group of cowboys running a herd of cattle near Wichita, KS

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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An open book sitting on a table with bookshelves in the background at a local bookstore in Wichita,KS

Dec 27, 2019 in Bookstores in Wichita

Find Your Next Read at A Wichita Bookstore

Looking for some new additions to your book collection? Whether you’re a collector or just searching for your next good book, find it at a local Wichita bookstore. Here are five places to find the perfect book. more Watermark Books & Cafe For a truly local bookstore experience, be sure to visit Watermark Books and Cafe on East Douglas Ave. Open six days a week and closed on Sunday, the store offers a variety of books across many genres. With an excellent children's section, the store hosts many storytimes and author signing events to help encourage young readers. In addition, the bookstore publishes newsletters for kids, teachers, new releases, and seasoned readers. With a big focus on local and regional authors, you can find some Wichita gems at Watermark. The bookstore's cafe offers soups and a variety of pastries to enjoy with your book. F.C. Ziegler Co. Also located on East Douglas Ave., F.C. Ziegler Company is a small Catholic bookstore chain. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, they carry prayer books, devotionals, bibles, and gift items. You can find history books and commemorative edition books to celebrate special occasions such as baptisms and weddings. Book-a-holic Book-a-holic is a wonderful independent used bookstore. With three locations in Wichita, all three are open seven days a week. Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The store allows you to buy, sell, or trade for your next great read in any genre from cooking to science-fiction and everything in between. Barnes & Noble Are you ready to explore a store with something for everyone? Stop by Barnes and Noble on North Rock Road. Free WiFi means you can escape the daily grind to study or work while enjoying a Starbucks coffee in the on-site cafe. You can also relax and disconnect in many of the welcoming seating areas located throughout the store. With weekly storytimes (featuring free cafe items and giveaways for the kids), author events, book release parties, Barnes & Noble is a great weekly stop for the kids. In addition to their events and extensive periodical inventory, you can pick up special orders in-store. Al's Old & New Book Store LLC If you are looking for a new copy of an old book, head over to Al's Old and New Book Store on East William Street. The store focuses on carrying older titles that are hard to find in other locations, including classics and a variety of history books. If you are looking for a treasured book from years ago, ask them to show you the special research tools they have to help cut down your search time. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to explore their more than 40,000 book inventory. With so many options, it will be fun and easy to find your next read at one of these Wichita bookstores. Make it a weekly after-school field trip with the kids or make it a date night stop to sip a cup of coffee and browse the extensive book selections at your favorite store. Image via Pixabay by geralt

An orange 2019 Jeep Renegade driving through a creek near Wichita, KS

Dec 13, 2019 in 2019 Jeep Renegade

Here's What You Need to Know About the 2019 Jeep Renegade

A subcompact SUV, the 2019 Jeep Renegade is a powerful off-roading vehicle that delivers a strong ride. Originally introduced in 2015, the Renegade now features six trims — Sport, Latitude, Altitude, Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude. As Jeep's smallest SUV, the Renegade includes several features that set this vehicle apart from others in its class, including a new engine as well as a handful of interior and safety upgrades. more Performance There are two engine options available with the 2019 Jeep Renegade. The base 2.4-liter, 180-horsepower engine produces 175 pound-feet of torque and works well, but if you're looking for more power, consider the 1.3-liter 177-horsepower turbo-four engine that produces 200 pound-feet of torque. The latter engine is new for 2019 and comes standard on the Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude trims. Both engines are paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport and Latitude trims, while all-wheel drive is available on all trims. Also, when properly equipped, the Renegade can tow up to 2,000 pounds. Entertainment Features To keep you and your passengers entertained, the Renegade has plenty of technology features. It now comes standard with a 5-inch touch-screen display and Bluetooth capabilities. Previous standard features remain, and these include a six-speaker audio system and USB port. The vehicle also offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities as well as an upgraded and user-friendly Uconnect system with either a 7- or 8.4-inch touch-screen display, satellite radio, and a nine-speaker Beats audio system. Fuel Economy With the base engine and all-wheel drive, the Renegade attains 22 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. For the turbo-four engine along with front-wheel drive, numbers increase to 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Cabin Space Unlike other subcompact SUVs, the 2019 Jeep Renegade provides ample headroom and legroom for both rows. The driver benefits from superb front and rear visibility thanks to a high seating position. You can upgrade to receive a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat. When it comes to cargo space, the Renegade holds 18.5 cubic feet of space, and if you fold down the seats, you gain 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Safety Features The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Jeep Renegade with four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover tests. Although it only comes standard with a rearview camera, the vehicle has numerous upgrades available. You can opt for a forward-collision warning, front and rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. Also, the vehicle offers two full sets of LATCH car-seat connectors on its outboard rear seats and a tether anchor in the middle seat. The 2019 Jeep Renegade is a smart choice if you're looking for a well-equipped and powerful vehicle. For more information about the Renegade or to schedule a test drive, reach out to the experts at Davis-Moore Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. They can help you determine which trim works best for your needs so you can drive off in this vehicle today. Image via Jeep.com

A white 2020 Dodge Durango parked on pavement in Wichita, KS

Dec 20, 2019 in 2020 Dodge Durango

All You Need to Know About the 2020 Dodge Durango

Are you looking for a midsize SUV that brings style and practicality? Whether you're taking your turn in the school carpool line or heading out for a family vacation, this SUV meets all the marks. Here's all you need to know about the 2020 Dodge Durango. more Power-Driven With three engine options under the hood of the 2020 Dodge Durango, you're sure to find the right power package for your needs. The entry-level 3.6-liter V-6, 295-horsepower engine powers the SXT, SXT Plus, GT, GT Plus, Citadel, and Citadel Adonized Platinum trim levels. When you upgrade to the 5.7 liter V-8, power increases to 360 horsepower in the R/T. The performance-enhanced Durango SRT comes equipped with a powerful 6.4-liter, 475 horsepower V-8 engine. Towing-Capable The Durango gives you enough power to haul outdoor toys and gear for camping and vacationing. Beginning with a tow-capacity of 6,200 pounds, the V-6 hauls most toys, kids, gear. If you need a power boost, go for the V-8 engine that adds 1,100 pounds of tow capacity to your adventure-seeking ride. At the top end of the towing capacity, a Durango with the proper equipment handles 8,700 pounds. This means you can easily haul your boat and other large outdoor items. Use the included trailer sway control, while you are towing to keep your load and your vehicle safe on the road. The sway control alternates brake pressure between the wheels to give you more control regardless of the road conditions. Room for Everyone and Everything Seven adults comfortably fit in this truck over three rows of seating. The first two rows come with standard bucket seats and a bench in the back. Thanks to the flexibility and folding seats, you have several options when it comes to seating and cargo space. The bench seat has a 60/40 fold in it so you can keep half of it and lower the other half for longer items. The second-row seats fold and tumble for easier entry and exit from the third row. If you fold down the second and third-row seats, you'll have a total of 84.5 cubic feet of space. When you have all three rows of seats up, the interior holds 47.7 cubic feet of cargo. Technology-Equipped As soon as you step into this SUV, you'll notice technology surrounds you. For the driver, a digital cluster display gives you essential information, such as your speed and gas mileage. It also displays what type of audio source you are using and any safety alerts. Everyone enjoys the Uconnect infotainment system that is compatible with both Apple and Android smart devices. Connect your device for access to your music library and phone GPS apps as well as hands-free calling while you are on the road. For more fun, add the available dual-screen Blu-Ray entertainment system. It fits into the back of the front row seats so your crew can enjoy movies and shows while traveling. Do you find yourself planning your next road trip in the 2020 Dodge Durango? Stop by Davis-Moore Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today. Our friendly staff looks forward to helping you find the perfect Durango for your family. Image via Dodge.com

*New Car MSRP is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. New Car All In Price includes the manufacturer's destination charge, dealer discounts and/or factory rebate(s), dealer administration fee and any dealer added accessories that are currently installed on the vehicle. Additional discounts may be available on the New Car Internet Price, contact the internet representative for details. Used car All In Price includes the dealer administration fee. Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, all information, and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, license. EPA Estimated MPG is shown is based on EPA estimates, actual mileage may vary. Please verify all information with Davis-Moore.