October 25, 2023 | Sign Up | Support Us​

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Wichita!

If you have a case of vexiphobia, you might want to skip to the bottom of this email...

In today's Wichita Life Update

• The History of the Wichita Flag
• The Resurgence
• Breakdown of the Flag

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

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Over the last decade, the Wichita flag has made an incredible resurgence.

I don’t remember ever seeing or thinking about the Wichita flag growing up and now you can’t go anywhere without seeing it.

The History of the Wichita Flag

Wichita was incorporated in 1870, but the flag as we know it wasn’t adopted until 1937 when the City of Wichita held a flag design contest.

Wichita local Cecil McAlister entered and won the contest (and $40 in 1937 money - $854.97 in today’s money) amongst more than 100 entries

The Betsy Ross of Wichita, Mary J. Harper, then stitched it together.

On Flag Day (6/14/1937), Cecil’s design was officially adopted by the City of Wichita and it flew for the first time on 7/23/1937 over City Hall.

The Resurgence

So if it has been the official flag since 1937, why did it just become popular recently?

In 2004, our flag was even ranked the #6 best city flag in North America.

For many years, the flag was not widely recognized in Wichita. However, starting around 2015 or so, something changed.

The #ILoveWichita campaign helped pour some gas.

Local businesses, artists, and residents have embraced the flag as a symbol of local pride. From merchandise like t-shirts and mugs to murals and artworks, the Wichita flag has become an iconic representation of the city's spirit.

​Some retailers even went from selling 0 flags in 2014 to 100+ per month in 2018.

This renaissance can be attributed to a renewed sense of community identity and pride. The flag is a symbolic representation not just of our past, but of our love for our community. It has served as a rallying cry as the Chung Report once reported it could.

If you're curious as to how / why everyone and their dog can use the logo, it is in the public domain and is not copyrighted which means anyone has the right to use it for whatever they want.

Breakdown of the Flag

If you grew up in New Mexico or are a self-proclaimed vexologist (someone who studies flags), then you might recognize the New Mexico flag and think it looks awfully familiar.

Did Wichita steal the design for the flag? That’s a question for another day.

Let’s break down the different parts of the flag. Cecil didn’t just want a beautiful flag, he put some thought into it.

The Wichita flag is an amalgamation of symbols, each representing a unique aspect of the city:

1. The Blue Sun: The blue circle represents happiness and contentment.
2. White Hogan: The hogan or Hoag which is a Navajo or American Indian symbol used to represent a permanent home.
3. Three Red and White Stripes: Extending from the sun are three alternating red and white stripes. These represent the path of freedom, honor, and the courage of the city's pioneers. The freedom to come and go as you wish.

Conclusion

The Wichita flag is more than just a piece of cloth with a design; it's a symbol of a city's journey, its challenges, and its triumphs.

It stands as a testament to Wichita's rich history, its diverse culture, and its indomitable spirit. As the city continues to grow and evolve, the flag remains a constant, reminding residents and visitors alike of the values and traditions that make Wichita truly unique.

Where to get your Merch

The rise in popularity of the flag has been good for morale as well as good for another thing:

Here is a short list of places to pick up some Wichita Flag gear:

• ​Wichita Shirt Co​
• ​The Workroom​
• ​Scheels​
• ​The Marketplace at Clifton Square​
• ​The Spice Merchant and Company​
• ​Wichita Screen Printing​
• ​Wichita museum​

What did we miss about the flag?

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Quick Event Rundown:

• ​Wag & Woof Howl-O-Ween Extravaganza | Chicken N Pickle | 10/25 - 6pm
• ​Kids Halloween | Museum of World Treasures | 10/6 - 5pm
• ​Gardens Aglow | Botanica | 10/26 - 6pm
• ​Halloween Bar Crawl | Perless | 10/27 - 10/28
• ​Halloween on the Farm! | Eberly Farm | 10/27 - 4pm
• ​Final Friday Food Truck Rally & Art Show | Boathouse | 10/27 - 5pm
• ​Fall Fridays - Family Movie Night | Bradley Fair | 10/27 - 6pm
• ​Festive ICT presents THRILLER | Doma | 10/28
• ​Wichita Asian Festival | Century II | 10/28 – 5pm to 10pm
• ​Wichita Startup Week | Groover Labs | 11/13 – 11/17

That's it for today! We hope you enjoyed this deep dive.

Thanks!

- Landon

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