Delano Clock Tower

The clock tower in the roundabout intersection of Douglas and Sycamore is titled “Window in Time”. It was designed to be a link to the past of the colorful place and time in Delano’s history. Inspiration for the tower design came from the old and colorful Turner Opera House of 1879, which used to stand at the corner of Market and First Streets. The four bas-relief art panels, crafted by Kiv Yankey, a local Kansas artist, depict the development of Delano through its heyday. The 1865 panel depicts Jesse Chisholm, known for his trading post on the banks of the Arkansas River and for leading members of the Wichita Indian tribe to the Indian Territories in Oklahoma for settlement. The 1870 era saw herds of Texas cattle being brought down the streets of Delano to the railhead for shipment east. The cattle drivers brought their end-of-the-drive pay to town; and gambling and prostitution soon followed. The 1875 era was a time of lawlessness and vice in Delano, across the river from Wichita. In 1880’s Wichita could close its eyes no longer and Delano became officially a part of Wichita, subject to its laws and morals. Delano then took its place as a thriving business center with just a hint of a wild and wooly past. Time Capsule When the clock tower was dedicated in 2003, a Time Capsule was buried at it’s base to be opened for Delano’s 150th anniversary. Included in this time capsule are pictures and newspapers from our colorful history along with some items that were found during the street construction in 2003. Coins, pictures and other present day items were included also.