Etzanoa Immersion Center Holds VIP Preview, Sets June 6 Public Grand Opening

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Etzanoa Immersion Center held a VIP preview opening May 1 and will open to the general public June 6, offering visitors a chance to explore the history of one of the largest Native American settlements ever discovered in North America.

The museum tells the story of Etzanoa, the Great Settlement, where more than 20,000 Native Americans from the Wichita Tribe inhabited the area from approximately 1450 to 1700. The site also marks the location of a battle between the Wichita and Spanish Conquistadors.

The center features artifacts, pictures, films and an authentic structure currently being built. A virtual reality experience is also among the offerings, along with several scenic trails leading to a river, a lake, a waterfall, a cave and more. Tours are available.

Local business Landrush Antique Mall attended the VIP preview and described it as a significant addition to the community.

"The history that lays beneath our community is like no other," the business said. "This is an immersion museum at its finest and this is just the beginning because it is growing."

A mural created by the Art Club at Cowley College and dedicated to Etzanoa will also be shared with the public in the near future.

For updates, follow Etzanoa: The Great Settlement on Facebook.

CONTACT: Etzanoa: The Great Settlement Facebook: Etzanoa: The Great Settlement Public Grand Opening: June 6