Fort Scott’s National Historic Site will provide opportunities for members of the community and visitors to learn about the fort’s history through guided tours, but also experience it as volunteers play the roles of soldiers and civilians from the 1840s and ‘50s.
“What better way to learn the history of Fort Scott than to actually see people in period clothing?” park ranger Galen Ewing said. “It allows them to step back in time and use their imagination a little bit.”
The Highlights in History event held Saturday through Monday will display what life during that time period was like, through demonstrations concerning areas of life including medicine, laundry, baking, discipline and politics.
Flintlock musket and artillery demonstrations will also be given all three days. Ewing said that has been especially popular during the annual event and is a favorite of his as well.
“Everybody likes to hear the boom,” Ewing said.
The fort hosts similar events for Fourth of July and Memorial Day as well, using those holidays to share about the military function of the fort and its role in American history.
“It’s tied in to interpreting a little bit of the different military periods that the fort was occupied here,” Ewing said of those events held throughout the year, with the Labor Day event focusing on Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War.
Ewing said they have had a conservative estimate of 500-600 visitors participate over the weekend in the past, though weather plays a key role how many attend. This year, Ewing said he would like to see 1,000 come.
While each event has some similarities, Ewing said they are bringing back some special presentation that had not been offered in years, such as the Blood on the Prairie and Democracy Run Wild presentations on Monday.
Volunteers from the Holmes Brigade, a non-profit, living history organization which includes reenactors from Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other states, will participate in the weekend as well.
See the schedule below for details on the weekend events.
Saturday, September 5
10 a.m. – Sick Call: 1840s Medicine
11 a.m. – Flintlock Musket Demonstration
1 p.m. – Guided Tour
2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration
3 p.m. – Crime and Punishment: Guardhouse Talk
4 p.m. – Flag Retreat
Sunday, September 6
11 a.m. – Flintlock Musket Demonstration
1 p.m. – Guided Tour
2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration
3 p.m. – Post Sutler Talk
4 p.m. – Flag Retreat
Monday, September 7
10 a.m. – Blood on the Prairie
11 a.m. – Artillery Demonstration
1 p.m. – Guided Tour
2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration
3 p.m. – Democracy Run Wild
4 p.m. – Flag Retreat
