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When Wichita was founded in 1870, death was already a frequent occurrence here. The city's first official cemetery was established that same year. In the two decades that followed Wichita's beginning, more than ten cemeteries appeared in and around a thriving (and simultaneously dying) community.
Many of Wichita's earliest cemeteries started on a small section of farmland. Additional burials, long-term maintenance needs, and proper layouts weren't always considered. Other early cemeteries were planned meticulously, with great attention given to the finer details and future needs. The spaces in Wichita designed for the dead were not created equal, but all were established out of necessity, and each one has a story.
These cemeteries are meant to be explored. They are welcoming and peaceful spaces where life and death exist together. Let's explore the oldest existing cemeteries in Wichita, the final resting places for many of the city's pioneer families.
Autumn Hearne was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. Her fascination with local dark history, old newspapers, and true crime often makes for interesting (and awkward) dinner conversations. She works full-time as a database administrator, technical writer, and corporate trainer. In her free time, Autumn loves exploring cemeteries and unconventional destinations across Kansas with her husband. She is a mom to four bright children and three opinionated dogs. You can find more of Autumn’s cemetery photos and some true Kansas dark history stories on Instagram and TikTok (@midwesterndeathtrip), and on her website, www.midwesterndeathtrip.com.
