The historic Wey Mansion is one of the homes on the House Tour.
The Historic Midtown Citizens Association (HMCA) will hold its annual walking tour of homes Oct. 13 and 14 along North Park Place in Wichita. The HMCA is also celebrating its 40th anniversary as a neighborhood association. Costumed docents will provide guests with a behind-the-scenes tour in some of Wichita’s oldest homes. The theme this year, living history – celebrating community, references the hundreds of homes that have been preserved in one of Wichita’s official historic districts and the renewed sense of community found among its neighbors.
The annual walking tour dates back to 1974 and draws between 1,000 and 2,000 visitors. The tour celebrates the preservation and revitalization of properties in Historic Midtown. In addition to walking through the homes to learn about their history, visitors will be able to listen to live music, see vintage cars and bicycles, and enjoy refreshments at Victoria Park along the tour route. On Saturday, members of the Wichita Police Mounted Unit will be at the event.
“The walking tour is a rare opportunity to see some of Wichita’s oldest homes and learn about how they have been preserved and restored,” said Rachel Schober, HMCA tour chair. “This weekend event provides visitors a chance to step back in time and view some of our city’s architectural heritage. It’s really amazing to be able to just walk into some of these beautiful homes. You start to realize how much of a treasure we have in the heart of our city and why people love living in these old neighborhoods. There is a renewed sense of community throughout Midtown that we are proud to put on display and share with our guests.”
Tour tickets are $10.00 for adults, and children age 12 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Proceeds from the walking tour are used for HMCA neighborhood projects, including educational scholarships for youth and historic restoration efforts that benefit the community. Tickets can be purchased in-person during touring hours Oct. 13 and 14 at Fairview Christian Church located at 1650 N. Fairview Ave.
The tour runs Sat., Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 14 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Properties on the 2012 tour include: 1505 N. Park Place, 1536 N. Park Place, 1759 N. Park Place, and 1751 N. Park Place (the historic Wey Mansion).
For more information, visit http://midtownwichita.org of http://www.facebook.com/pages/Historic-Midtown-Citizens-Association/386551698028540.
