'Keeper of the Plains' by Blackbear Bosin

The Keeper of the Plains is a 44-foot Cor-Ten steel sculpture by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin. It sits at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers in Wichita, Kansas. The sculpture, commissioned by the city and private organizations to mark the United States Bicentennial, was erected in 1974. It has since become one of Wichita's most recognized and beloved symbols.

A Spring/Summer 2006 project elevated the sculpture on a 30-foot rock promontory so it could be seen from farther away (see photo at right). Surrounding the base of the statue are multiple displays which describe the local tribes that used to inhabit this area, as well as several fire pits which sometimes light up to illuminate the statue at night.

"The Keeper of the Plains" was mentioned by Christian musician Rich Mullins in his 1991 song "Calling Out Your Name" (from the album "The World as Best as I Remember It, Volume One")

A profile image of this statue comprises the motif adopted by the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, a U.S. Air Force flying unit which is based at nearby McConnell Air Force Base. From 1993 through 2004, an image of the statue, along with the words "Keeper of the Plains," appeared on the tails of Boeing KC-135 air refueling tankers assigned to the 22nd ARW.