On February 2, 1961, the Wichita Eagle ran a story about the Pagoda in Riverside Park, with the cutline: “Pagoda Puzzles Park Board.” The pagoda was a mystery to the Wichita Board of Park Commissioners. The city had no record of its origin. Once a public restroom, it had since been used for storage.
The oriental-style building had fallen into obscurity. Proposals to demolish, abandon, paint, preserve, or remodel it sparked questions about its origins.
Courtesy: Wichita Eagle
“The thing has little apparent value to us,” said parks director Emory Cox. “It was a public toilet, then storage. It’s inconveniently located and no longer useful as a toilet. Frankly, we just didn’t know what it is doing there.”
A commissioner suggested that if its historical value were known, it could be preserved by a historical group adding, “It would help a lot, if we could find someone who remembered when it was built—and why.”
Another commissioner speculated it might have been built to commemorate a treaty with Japan around 1909 but admitted its use as a public toilet wouldn’t honor such a treaty.
“So far as we know,” Cox said, “we just don’t need it.”
The Eagle ran another story a few days later. “Despite efforts by several “old-time Wichitans,” the building’s origins remained unclear.” Some stories suggested it was built downtown for a 1920s exposition and later moved to Riverside. Others claimed it was constructed around 1930, used as a concession stand, then rebuilt as a restroom. There was even speculation it might have been one of the city’s original sod huts, later modernized. A letter to the editor recalled the building being new in 1911.
The pagoda was indeed built in 1911 as a concession stand, designed by William Springfield, from the Wichita Association of Architects.
On April 4, 1911, the Wichita Eagle announced the city would build a concession pavilion at Central Riverside Park. Edgar Leach, commissioner of parks, planned “an artistic pavilion, constructed of cement stone” with “a wide roof to protect persons during a storm.”
In May, 1911, The Beacon reported Albert M. Vester won the bid to sell refreshments in the park for $750. The contract required “a man of experience and character.” Four days later, William Springfield revealed his design for the pavilion in a “quaint Japanese style.”
In September, The Beacon reported a conflict between Vester and Walter Beam, a former concession holder who set up a stand outside the park. Vester complained, but the city couldn’t force Beam to leave. The city then passed an occupation tax on nearby refreshment stands.
In 1913, Coca-Cola ran the concession stand for $1001. That year, it was converted into a bathroom with waiting rooms. In 1938, it became a storage unit.
Jumping to 1961, The Eagle’s story was the first mention of the building as a “pagoda”. In February 1961, the city approved architect Robert Morris to design a color scheme to paint the building.
In June 1964, the Beacon reported the Wichita Zoological Society renamed it the Children’s Pagoda House to stir interest in a new zoo. Camp Fire Girls guided tours through an animal maze inside the pagoda.
Courtesy: Wichita Beacon
In 1965, the pagoda sold car stickers and zoo memberships. Kids collected bottle caps and packaging to help buy new animals for the zoo.
In September 1993, the Eagle reported the city’s $10 million plan to reshape Riverside Park, including restoring the pagoda as public restrooms.
After 2000, the pagoda hosted pancake feeds, 4th of July parades, and Riverfest events. When these photos were taken, it was still used for storage.
Courtesy: Wichita Eagle
Park Commissioner Edgar M. Leach died of a heart attack in 1952, he was 78. He is interred at Maple Grove Cemetery
Albert M. Vester died of a heart attack in 1932, he was 68. He is interred at Old Mission Mausoleum.
Walter W. Beam died in 1963 at the age of 97. He is interred at Wichita City Park in an unmarked grave.
To learn more stories about Wichita’s Riverside Park, check out Mini-Series: Riverside Park
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