1950-1999 Did You Know Wichita

1. 1950: Wichita State University became a state university.
2. 1953: The first television station in Wichita, KAKE-TV, began broadcasting.
3. 1954: The Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport opened.
4. 1955: The first McDonald’s in Wichita opened.
5. 1958: Pizza Hut was founded in Wichita by Dan and Frank Carney.
6. 1962: The first shopping mall in Wichita, Twin Lakes Shopping Center, opened.
7. 1964: Wichita State University’s football team appeared in the Sun Bowl.
8. 1969: Joyland Amusement Park introduced the famous wooden roller coaster, the “Nightmare.”
9. 1970: The population of Wichita surpassed 276,000.
10. 1971: Sedgwick County Zoo opened.
11. 1978: The Wichita Wings, a professional indoor soccer team, was established.
12. 1980: Wichita State University’s basketball team reached the NCAA Final Four.
13. 1985: The famous rock band Guns N’ Roses played one of their first concerts in Wichita.
14. 1987: Botanica, The Wichita Gardens was opened.
15. 1989: The Epic Center, Wichita’s tallest building, was completed.
16. 1991: The devastating Wichita-Andover, KS F5 tornado struck.
17. 1992: The Wichita Thunder ice hockey team was formed.
18. 1996: The historic Orpheum Theatre underwent a major renovation.
19. 1998: Exploration Place, a science museum, opened its doors.
20. 1999: The Wichita State University Shockers men’s basketball team won the Missouri Valley Conference title.
21. 1952: Old Cowtown Museum was established.
22. 1953: Wichita Mid-Continent Airport was built, later renamed Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
23. 1953: The US military Wichita Air Force Base came into use.
24. 1954: Wichita Audubon Society was founded.
25. 1954: The autopilot was invented by David D. Blanton.
26. 1958: Dockum Drug Store sit-in, an important civil rights event, took place in July.
27. 1965: Wichita State University Shockers men’s basketball team made its first ever appearance in the Final Four.
28. 1967: The central Wichita Public Library building was dedicated.
29. 1969: Century II opened after razing blocks of the warehouse district south of Douglas Street.
30. 1969: Cessna Stadium expansion at Wichita State University was built.
31. 1971: Kansas African American Museum was founded.
32. 1975: Towne East Square shopping mall opened.
33. 1976: Mid-America All-Indian Center was established.
34. 1977: Kansas Coliseum opened.
35. 1979: The Herman Hill riot occurred on April 15.
36. 1980: Towne West Square shopping mall opened.
37. 1984: Kansas Food Bank was established.
38. 1987: Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, opened.
39. 1989: The Epic Center, Wichita’s tallest building, was completed.
40. 1991: The Wichita-Andover, KS F5 tornado struck.
41. 1992: Wichita Thunder ice hockey team was formed.
42. 1993: Southwind Sangha Sōtō Zen Association was founded.
43. 1997: Wichita’s city website went online (approximate date).
44. 1998: Exploration Place, a science museum, was inaugurated.
45. 1999: Wichita State University Shockers men’s basketball team won the Missouri Valley Conference title.
46. 1972: The first “Tallgrass Film Festival” was held in Wichita, fostering the local film culture.
47. 1973: Groundbreaking for the Hyatt Regency Wichita, which would become a key hotel in the city’s skyline.
48. 1974: Wichita’s first community garden was established, promoting urban agriculture.
49. 1981: The Wichita Art Museum acquired the Roland P. Murdock Collection, significantly enhancing its holdings.
50. 1982: The Wichita River Festival began its annual celebration, becoming one of the city’s largest community events.
51. 1983: The Wichita Greyhound Park opened, introducing live greyhound racing to the region.
52. 1986: Wichita’s first microbrewery opened, marking the beginning of the craft beer movement in the city.
53. 1988: The Great Plains Transportation Museum was founded to preserve Wichita’s railway heritage.
54. 1990: Wichita’s “The Big Read” program launched, encouraging city-wide participation in reading and discussing a single book.
55. 1993: The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum displayed the first electric guitar, invented by a Wichita native.
56. 1994: McConnell Air Force Base hosted its first air show, featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
57. 1995: The first GPS test flight took place in Wichita, demonstrating the city’s ongoing involvement in aviation innovation.
58. 1997: Wichita hosted the National Baseball Congress World Series, highlighting its significance in amateur baseball.
59. 1998: Wichita’s first internet café opened, providing public access to the emerging world wide web.
60. 1999: The “Wichita Walk of Fame” was established, honoring notable Wichitans for their contributions to the city and beyond.
61. 1956: The first automated teller machine (ATM) in Wichita was installed.
62. 1959: The Monarch Cement Company, one of the oldest businesses in Wichita, celebrated its 100th anniversary.
63. 1960: The “Keeper of the Plains” statue by Blackbear Bosin was erected at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers.
64. 1963: Wichita became the first city in Kansas to adopt a council-manager form of government.
65. 1966: The Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum opened in the original Wichita City Hall, built in 1892.
66. 1974: “Wichita Festivals, Inc.” was established to organize citywide events and celebrations.
67. 1976: The “Wichita Historical Museum” launched its first mobile exhibit, bringing history to local schools.
68. 1979: The “Wichita Jazz Festival” was founded, enhancing the city’s musical landscape.
69. 1981: The “Arkansas River Coalition” was formed to protect and enhance the river’s natural environment.
70. 1983: “The Lux,” a historic building, was converted into a mixed-use space, sparking downtown revitalization efforts.
71. 1985: The “Wichita Symphony Orchestra” performed its first open-air concert at the newly established Bradley Fair.
72. 1986: Wichita’s “Old Town” district was revitalized, becoming a center for nightlife and entertainment.
73. 1988: The city’s first “Art in the Park” event showcased local artists in Riverside Park.
74. 1990: “Wichita’s First Friday” art crawls began, encouraging community engagement with the arts.
75. 1992: The “Keeper of the Plains” statue underwent its first major restoration.
76. 1994: The “Wichita Asian Festival” was established, celebrating Asian culture and diversity.
77. 1995: “The Coleman Factory Outlet and Museum” opened, highlighting the company’s history in outdoor recreation products.
78. 1996: Wichita’s first “community-supported agriculture” (CSA) program was launched.
79. 1997: The “Wichita Public Market” opened, providing a venue for local farmers and artisans.
80. 1999: “The Orpheum Theatre” celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special series of performances and events.
81. 1957: Wichita’s first planetarium opened to the public, offering educational sky shows.
82. 1961: The “All Indian Pueblo Council” held its meeting in Wichita, symbolizing the city’s importance to Native American culture.
83. 1968: Wichita State University’s Rhatigan Student Center was inaugurated, becoming a hub for student activities.
84. 1970: The “Wichita Massacre” occurred, a tragic event shaping the city’s law enforcement policies.
85. 1973: Wichita introduced its first bicycle lanes, promoting alternative transportation.
86. 1972: The “Wichita-Sedgwick County Expressway” (I-235) was completed, improving the city’s transportation network.
87. 1975: “The Wichita Eagle” newspaper merged with “The Wichita Beacon,” consolidating the city’s primary news sources.
88. 1978: Wichita’s “Delano District” underwent significant redevelopment, enhancing its historic charm and appeal.
89. 1982: The “Wichita Area Technical College” was established, offering vocational and technical education to the community.
90. 1984: The “Great Wichita Flood” caused significant damage, leading to improved flood control measures.
91. 1986: The “Wichita Public Library” launched its first computerized catalog system, modernizing its services.
92. 1987: “The Museum of World Treasures” was founded, initially as a private collection open to the public.
93. 1988: Wichita’s “Veterans Memorial Park” was dedicated, honoring the service of military veterans.
94. 1991: “The Wichita Firefighters Memorial” was unveiled, commemorating firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
95. 1993: Wichita State University’s “Hughes Metropolitan Complex” opened, serving as a venue for conferences and community events.
96. 1994: The “Wichita Community Foundation” was established to support local philanthropic efforts.
97. 1996: The “Wichita Riverfront Park” project began, aimed at enhancing the riverfront area for public enjoyment.
98. 1997: “The Tallgrass Film Festival” was founded, celebrating independent film in the heart of the country.
99. 1998: Wichita’s “Old Mill Tasty Shop” was recognized as a historic local eatery, known for its soda fountain and classic American fare.
100. 1999: The “Ulrich Museum of Art” at Wichita State University acquired a significant collection of modern and contemporary art, boosting its status as a leading art institution in the Midwest.
101. 1956: Wichita introduced its first sister city relationship with Cancún, Mexico, promoting international friendship and cultural exchange.
102. 1959: The first “Wichita Historical Marker” was placed, beginning a citywide effort to commemorate local sites.
103. 1960: The “Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center” was conceptualized, marking a significant development in the city’s cultural infrastructure.
104. 1963: The “Wichita Art Association” was renamed “The Wichita Center for the Arts,” expanding its mission and programs.
105. 1967: Wichita’s first “Urban Renewal Project” was initiated, aiming to revitalize the city’s core.