|
|
|
|
Here are a few miscellaneous pictures of assorted groups that always like to appear in parades.
|
The next group of people marching in the parade are from various scenes in the pageant. First are the
European nobility, mostly Spanish, who first controlled the americas in the early 1500's.
|
Next are the mountain men, trappers and fur traders.
|
More miscellaneous floats and exhibits:
|
Another part of the history of Medicine Lodge was the life of Carrie Nation. Carrie Nation was a leader
in the Temperance Movement and went around Kansas breaking up saloons with a hatchet. The house where she lived has
been made into a museum and next to it stands an authentic stockade and indian fort, on Highway 160. This float
represents the saloon with the dance hall girls and that's Carrie Nation in the black dress with her cute little black
hat.
|
This picture is Greg and Sara Whelan. Sara is the President of the Peace Treaty Association.
|
The next carriage is Abraham Lincoln, played by Ivan Klusman. Honest Abe was gone but well-remembered
in the 1867 Peace Treaty.
|
Most politicians like to ride in parades in old convertibles, but this politician got into the act,
and rode his horse in the parade. I don't know who the young lady is, maybe it's his daughter.
|
The Old West just wouldn't be the same without the U.S. Cavalry. In some of the pictures, the guy with
the thick beard and glasses on a light tan horse is my old friend John Poindexter.
|
The Spanish Conquistadores explored the americas through the 1500's. They conquered the Aztec empire
in 1521 near present day Mexico City, and then moved north. The Indians created the myth of Cíbola (pronounced with
the accent on the first syllable, like SEE-bola) of 7 cities of gold, to get rid of the conquistadores by sending them
on a wild goose chase to the north. The city of El Dorado, Kansas, actually means "The guilded" and is presumed to be
one of those 7 cities of gold. The part of the padre was played by Jeff Fowler.
|
Next we have a few miscellaneous pictures. On your left is a miniature horse pulling a cart. The pictures on your
right are the Lewis & Clark Expedition. That's Sacajawea with the purple vest.
|
The next group in the parade is the Indian braves. These are fake indians of course, to play the parts
in the pageant. The real Native Americans appear at the beginning of the pageant and at the beginning of the parade.
|
I'm not sure about these next riders. They might be a saddle club or they might be more players in the
pageant.
|
The Singing Cowboys have always been a popular attraction around Medicine Lodge. I wonder if they might
have been Martina McBride's original back-up band.
|
More miscellaneous pictures: a wagon pulled by mules; 2 pictures of a colonial coach, more fur traders
and trappers, and miscellaneous riders.
|
What would a parade be without some antique fire engines and antique cars? The cars are from the Model
A Club of Wichita.
|
Wagons, ho! This is a shortened version of the wagon train. In the actual pageant there are at least
18 wagons, usually as many as 22. Where is Ward Bond when you need him?
|
More miscellaneous pictures: the stagecoach (this is where the term "riding shotgun" comes from), a
few wagons from the Chain Ranch (this is where The Cowboy King, Jerry Beagley, got his start), and the dynamite truck.
Every parade needs a dynamite truck!
|
The last part of the parade was more antique cars from the Model A Club of Wichita.
|
The very end of the parade was this monster truck covered with mud, presumably from mudrunning. Now
that's small town americana. |
To return to the top of the page, click here.
