During a recent work week, Wichita State anthropology professor Donald Blakeslee took two calls from England. The first, an interview with a science writer. The second, a call for an English radio show. Al Jazeera television from the United Arab Emirates is talking about coming to pay Blakeslee a visit this fall. The Travel Channel has talked about coming in the spring.
They all want to talk about one thing: The lost city of Etzanoa, an ancient massive city of Plains Indians near present-day Arkansas City. Blakeslee’s research over the past three years has confirmed the existence and location of the city, and changed what we’ve always thought about how the Plains Indians lived.
“I don’t have time to get my regular work done,” Blakeslee said.
Sandy Randel, the director of the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum in Arkansas City can relate. Her work load has doubled with half her time spent giving speeches about Etzanoa and hosting tours of the site on weekends. Tours are booked solid though the end of the year. But interest in Etzanoa is mushrooming faster than Blakeslee, and others in Arkansas City, can keep up with. Arkansas City manager Nick Hernandez cautions that it’s going to take time. He says that civic and education leaders are trying to do their part to make sure the area is ready.In the past month, a governing committee was formed that includes the city of Arkansas City, Cowley College, Wichita State University and the Etzanoa Conservancy. The idea behind the council is that every interest is represented, from the landowners who live around the area, to the research community and to the tourists who want to visit the area.
Pam Crain, head of the Arkansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau, agrees with Hernandez.
“It’s beyond exciting. It can be so huge, to be honest. That’s why we are taking our time. So that we can do do it correctly,” Crain said.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)