Independence: Parks, Culture and Festivals

You can get to know Independence from several perspectives: Riverside Park connects local history with animals and park attractions, while museums and the story of William Inge add cultural highlights. The William Inge Festival and Neewollah are also part of the picture. When planning your trip, consider whether you mainly want to explore museums and historic sites or plan your stay around an event.

Riverside Park and its history

Riverside Park was established in 1914, after the city was gifted 50 acres of land along the Verdigris River. The Ralph Mitchell Zoo was added in 1925 and is home to approximately 200 animal species. Monkey Island is described as the birthplace of Miss Able, a rhesus monkey who flew into space aboard a Jupiter rocket in 1959. This connects the zoo with a remarkable episode in the history of spaceflight.

Some individual park attractions also have notable dates: the carousel arrived in the summer of 1950, and the miniature train, Riverside Chief, in 1953. The Riverside Chief can be enjoyed in spring and summer. If you would like to plan your stay around it, check before your trip whether the train will be operating during your visit. Veterans Freedom Square in the park also serves to recognize and honor veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces from the region.

Museums and William Inge

The Independence Historical Museum & Art Center is housed in the historic 1912 Federal Building-Post Office. It has more than 25 exhibit rooms, and its gallery serves as a venue for art exhibitions. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check the opening hours before your visit if you plan to include the museum in your daily itinerary.

The Little House on the Prairie Museum includes a replica of the Ingalls family log cabin, a historic post office and a one-room schoolhouse. These exhibits highlight different aspects of history, from the story of the Ingalls family to the historic functions of the post office and school.

Independence also has a historic downtown district. Another cultural connection is William Inge, who was born in Independence on May 3, 1913. The William Inge Family Home at 514 N. 4th St. is used for performances during the Inge Festival and for other events.

The William Inge Festival takes place every April and lasts three days. In 2010, the Kansas State Legislature declared it the official state theater festival. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the current event dates in advance.

Parades and festival traditions

Neewollah began in Independence in 1919 as an initiative to offer children of all ages positive activities in the community instead of the Halloween pranks common at the time. The festival includes three distinct parades. The Kiddie Parade has been held since 1959; the Grand Parade brings together marching bands, floats, classic cars and equestrian units. Adults wear elaborate, often satirical costumes in the DooDah Parade.

The three parades each have their own character: the Kiddie Parade has a long-standing tradition of its own, the Grand Parade features a mix of music, floats, vehicles and equestrian units, and the DooDah Parade is known for its satirical costumes. If Neewollah is relevant to your stay, check the current festival dates to plan your trip accordingly.

There are several ways to choose when to visit: the museum has set weekly opening hours, the Riverside Chief operates in spring and summer, and the William Inge Festival takes place every April. You can plan your stay around whether you would like to experience museum and local history, a seasonal park attraction or a festival.

Discover more destinations: Caney, Coffeyville, Cherryvale.

Return to the regional travel overview: Montgomery.