Riverside in Wichita in Sedgwick County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Warriors
Their Natural Weapons
| | Plains Indians Life, Beliefs and Practices | |
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
1. Warriors Marker
The bow and arrow was the most natural weapon for the Plains Indian, the tool best suited for hunting buffalo. It was the first plaything given to him as a child. He began to practice before he was even 4 years old. At the age of 8 to 10, he would begin to use his developing skills to assist in the hunts.
Each warrior would craft his own bow. It was made from strong Osage orange wood, with the string made from buffalo sinew. Arrows were fashioned from dogwood, with hawk or eagle feathers. Arrowheads were usually flint or bone, with the size of the arrowhead dependent on what animal was being hunted.
Warriors developed commendable skills with the hunting and war lance, knife, hatchet and club. Hunting lances were undecorated and much thicker and longer than war lances. It was said that the shorter the war lance, the greater the courage of the warrior who carried it.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures.
Location. 37° 41.486′ N, 97° 21.004′ W. Marker is in Wichita, Kansas, in Sedgwick County. It is in Riverside. It can be reached from Veterans Parkway. The marker is on the Keeper of the Plains
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ceremony (here, next to this marker); Women (here, next to this marker); Stories (here, next to this marker); Buffalo (here, next to this marker); Keeper of the Plains (here, next to this marker); Tribes (a few steps from this marker); Dream Animals (a few steps from this marker); Tipis (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wichita.
Also see . . .
1. Native American weaponry. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on August 18, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Mid-America All-Indian Museum. Museum website homepage (Submitted on June 26, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. The Keeper of the Plains. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 26, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr.
2. Keeper of the Plains Plaza Markers
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 517 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 26, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on June 25, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
