Save Century II

Century II is the most famous and iconic structure in Wichita, Kansas. It is our Empire State Building, our Eiffel Tower, our Space Needle, our Notre Dame. However, razing the structure and losing this piece of our history is a real possibility in the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan.

Wichita has a history of tearing down historic structures. Empirical evidence indicates we, as a city regret those decisions to destroy our history — from the Kirby Castle in Riverside, razed in 1962 to make way for nondescript, two-story condominiums, to Meade's Corner razed recently. Now, another iconic Wichita structure is at risk.

Century II is featured on graphics ubiquitously in Wichita. There is not another building in town that is used in more of our government, corporate and nonprofit branding whether on web home pages, logos, skylines or other representations of our city.

As president of the Historic Preservation Alliance of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Greg Kite reminds us regularly that we "can't put a price on the community's history." And yet that's what is happening in the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan regarding Century II, a fine example of mid-century architecture.

Sign the petition to show your support for saving Century II.