Wichita in Sedgwick County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Buffalo
The Source of Life
— Plains Indians Life, Beliefs and Practices —
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
1. Buffalo Marker
While the Plains Indians hunted many kinds of animals, their very existence depended on the buffalo. The massive creatures supplied most of the meat for their diet. Every part of the great animal was used. Nothing was wasted. From the buffalo they fashioned their equipment. Built homes and furnishings. Made storage containers. In combination with wood, the buffalo was used to construct weapons and riding gear.
More than 60 million buffalo once roamed the Plains. Herds were moving at all times throughout the Plains, either in a north-south direction or in a circular migration. No one knows what made the herds move around as they did. The Indians believed that God sent the buffalo in response to their ceremonial buffalo calls.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Native Americans.
Location. 37° 41.483′ N, 97° 21.002′ W. Marker is in Wichita, Kansas, in Sedgwick County. The marker is on the Keeper of the Plains Plaza, at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers, about 500 feet ESE of the Mid-America All-Indian Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 650 North Seneca Street, Wichita KS 67203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Stories (here, next to this marker); Tribes
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Bison. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on January 13, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Bison Research for the Native American Community. NDSU entry (Submitted on June 26, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Bison at Wind Cave National Park. National Park Service entry (Submitted on June 26, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Mid-America All-Indian Museum, Wichita. Museum homepage (Submitted on June 26, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
5. Keeper of the Plains Plaza. Wichita 360 entry (Submitted on June 26, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.
2. Keeper of the Plains Plaza Markers
Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 573 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 25, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
