Cowtown businesses

Old fashioned swing

If you ever go to Old Cowtown and you are taking young children - be sure to allow extra time for them to play on the old fashioned "tree swing". It's a rope tied to a tree branch (way up high), with a bag of sand tied to the other end. It's big fun for little ones. And, it doesn't cost extra. This swing is in an area near the one room schoolhouse shown in an earlier post. The red building in the background is the public restrooms.

Old wagon

This old wagon, complete with arrows and missing a wheel, is seen while walking along the path from Old Cowtown's nice, new and modern entrance building.

Great Egret

I'm not sure of the actual name for this bird. It was down by the river, and was very quiet and slow moving, as if trying to not be noticed. As I got too close to try to get a photo, it took flight. Later it was back, again walking very slowly, and quietly. It was a fun bird to watch. It had an amusing strut as if it was trying to "walk like an egyptian", but much slower than Steve Martin's strut. Does anyone know what kind of bird this is? I'm thinking it's a crane. I don't see many like this one in Wichita.

Boy and bird

When I look at this boy and bird, I think of Abe and his beautiful bird photos. Have any of you ever had a bird perch on your finger?

Mother and child

This statue is found outside the entry (and exit) to Botanica - Wichita's Botanical Garden. I imagine some mothers leave Botanica, carrying a tired child to the car after an afternoon spent walking amongst the flowers and butterflies. Can anyone relate to this pose? I think they both look ready for a nap, and the child has a headstart, over mom.

1887

This second photo of the Eaton Hotel shows a date on the building, of 1887. When built it was called the Carey Hotel, later it was purchased and renamed The Eaton. In it's early days it was among the grandest of hotels in the midwest. It's also an historical site where Carrie Nation and some of her followers "busted up the bar" inside this hotel, in effort to shut it down. She had began her efforts to close down liquor establisments with the help of the law, but later took matters (and a hatchet) into her own hands. She would swing the hatchet (and throw objects) at fixtures, paintings, mirrors, glassware, etc - trying to cause enough damage to force the bars, or saloon, to close.

Alcohol was big business and was growing throughout America. Saloons would find ways to entice new customers to come in and drink. If interested in reading more about Carrie Nation, click here: http://www.kshs.org/cool2/hammer.htm

Eaton Hotel