Category Archives: Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott Offers Halloween Candle Lantern Tours Oct. 31

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Fort Scott, Kan. — Fort Scott National Historic Site will offer four special candle lantern tours on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, as part of its “Murder and Mayhem at the Fort” program. Tour leaders will share lesser-known stories of tragedy and macabre events from Fort Scott’s 19th century history, focusing on the 1840s through the 1860s.

Tours will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a new tour starting every 30 minutes. Tours are free and open to the public, but space is limited and reservations are required. The park will begin accepting reservations on Friday, Oct. 16, at 8:30 a.m. To reserve a spot, call 620-223-0310.

Those with reservations should arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled tour to allow time for parking and orientation. Participants should dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes, as tours take place entirely outdoors on sidewalks.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

Photo credit: NPS photo collage of drawings depicting some of the violent events associated with the fort.

Documents:

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Friends of Fort Scott NHS Annual Meeting Tonight

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site will hold their annual meeting Monday, September 21, at 6 p.m. at the home of Ronda and Rob Hassig, 512 S. Judson St. Friends members and the general public are invited to attend.

Evening highlights

  • Light refreshments
  • A special program on Quantrill’s Raid
  • A drawing for a reproduction U.S. 1847 Walker Colt Revolver

Revolver fundraiser drawing

Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Fort Scott National Historic Site. Suggested donation is $15 or more for one ticket, or $40 or more for three tickets. A small service fee applies to online purchases. You do not need to be present to win, and no donation is necessary to obtain a ticket.

To request one free ticket, mail a handwritten request to:

Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site
P.O. Box 442
Fort Scott, KS 66701

Limit one free ticket per household. Free tickets are limited, so requests should be mailed early.

Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Submitted

Friends of Fort Scott NHS Annual Meeting – Sept. 21

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Friends members and the general public are invited to attend the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Annual Meeting!

Monday, September 21, 2026
6 p.m.

At the home of Ronda & Rob Hassig
512 S. Judson St., Fort Scott

Annual Meeting details

Evening Highlights

  • Light refreshments
  • Special program on Quantrill’s Raid
  • Drawing for a reproduction U.S. 1847 Walker Colt Revolver

Revolver Fundraiser Drawing

Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Suggested donation:
• $15 or more for one ticket
• $40 or more for three tickets

Purchase tickets here!
*A small service fee applies to online purchases

You do not need to be present to win.

No donation is necessary to obtain a ticket.

To request one free ticket, mail a handwritten request to:

Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site
P.O. Box 442
Fort Scott, KS 66701

*Limit one free ticket per household.

*Free tickets are limited, so requests should be mailed early.

Friends of Fort Scott NHS

Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site!

Click here for the Friends of FSNHS Facebook Event Page!

Fort Scott National Historic Site, Submitted

Friends of FSNHS Annual Meeting Set for Sept. 21

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The public is invited to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site (FSNHS) being held Monday, September 21st at the Herbert House, 512 S Judson in Fort Scott, KS. The meeting begins at 6 pm with light appetizer refreshments. At 6:30 pm, a drawing for a replica 1847 Walker Colt revolver will be held followed by the general meeting. A twenty minute program “Quantrill’s Raid on Lawrence and Jacob Rote,” presented by Ronda Hassig, will follow the meeting.

Join us to learn about the Friends’ work on behalf of the National Historic Site and a little known Bleeding Kansas story in one of Fort Scott’s premier historic homes. Anyone (18 years or older) interested in participating in the drawing for the replica revolver can contact a FFSNHS board member or the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for a ticket prior to the meeting.

The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site is a non-profit organization established in partnership with the National Park Service to support and promote the preservation and interpretation of FSNHS.

Area News, Fort Scott, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott NHS to Host Naturalization Ceremony Sept. 16

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A previous naturalization ceremony at Fort Scott National Historic Site. NPS Photo.

National Park Service / U.S. Department of the Interior
Fort Scott National Historic Site News Release

Fort Scott National Historic Site to Host Special Naturalization Ceremony on September 16

Fort Scott, Kan. – Media outlets and the general public are invited to Fort Scott National Historic Site on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, for a Special Naturalization Ceremony at the fort’s parade ground.

Check-in for ceremony participants begins at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. The Honorable Holly L. Teeter, United States District Judge for the District of Kansas, is scheduled to preside.

Fort Scott National Historic Site Superintendent Jill Jaworski and Fort Scott Mayor Kathryn Salsbury will provide opening remarks. The Fort Scott High School Orchestra is scheduled to perform.

Seating will be provided for ceremony participants. Friends, family, guests, and the public are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets for seating. In case of rain or inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to Fort Scott’s Memorial Hall (1 E 3rd St, Fort Scott, KS 66701).

Media attending the ceremony are requested to RSVP and be in place by 10 a.m. at Fort Scott National Historic Site, 1 Old Fort Blvd., Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

Photo credit: NPS Photo

Fort Scott National Historic Site, Submitted

Labor Day Weekend at Fort Scott National Historic Site

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Labors on the Frontier
Labor Day Weekend at Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Kan. – Saturday through Monday, September 5–7, 2026, Fort Scott National Historic Site will take you on an exploration of the labors and leisure on an 1840s frontier post. Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., enjoy a variety of living history demonstrations as you explore the labors on the fort. Monday will be Artillery demonstrations at 9, 10, and 11 a.m.

Visit with an officer’s wife practicing needlepoint, a laundress doing laundry, learn about caring for your horse from a Dragoon soldier, log hewing with an infantry soldier, and join ranger guided tours at 1:00 p.m. All programs are free and open to the public.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

Photo credit: NPS Photo

Fort Scott National Historic Site, History, Submitted

Fort Scott Welcomes Army Mounted Color Guard Aug. 29

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US Army Photo of the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard Soldiers from the US Army's 1st Infantry Division.
US Army Photo of the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard Soldiers from the US Army’s 1st Infantry Division.

Fort Scott, Kan. – Saturday, August 29, 2026, Fort Scott National Historic Site will host the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard (CGMCG) from Fort Riley, with activities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors of all ages are invited to witness living history as the Army quarters their horses in the Dragoon Stables, echoing practices from the 1840s and 1850s. Wagon and mule team rides will be available throughout the event.

The CGMCG preserves Fort Riley’s legacy, showcasing the discipline and tradition of America’s mounted forces. Soldiers and horses, outfitted in authentic uniforms and equipment, present polished displays of cavalry horsemanship and military tradition.

Fort Scott and Fort Riley share a historic connection: Fort Scott closed in 1853, the same year Fort Riley was established. Both posts played key roles in protecting travelers along the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, Youth

Children Learn Flag Etiquette in Happenstance Meeting

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Cal Proctor, Judah Proctor, Wes Proctor and Stetson Harris with Fort Scott National Historic Site Ranger Paige Randolph, following the raising of the flag.. Submitted photos.

Kevin Moyers was having a morning walk with a couple of his grandchildren a few weeks ago at the Fort Scott National Historic Site and a ranger was putting the flags up for the day.

“She asked if the kids wanted to help,” Moyers said. “They did, and it was a thrill for them. So, over the 4th of July, more grandkids were coming in and I called the Fort to ask if we could help again, and they were glad for that to happen.”

Ranger Paige Randolph gave the children some points on respect for the flag and flag raising, he said.

Ranger Paige Randolph gives a lesson on raising the flag at Fort Scott National Historic Site to Cal Proctor, Wesley Proctor, and Stetson Harris. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott National Historic Site, Government, History

Immerse Yourself in America’s History at the Fort On July 4

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Join Fort Scott NHS for the Sights and Sounds of American Independence

Fort Scott, Kan. – Celebrate American independence with the sounds of cannon fire and immersion in America’s history while honoring the men and women who have defended the United States through the growth of our nation.

 

On Saturday, July 4th, we will fire artillery, lead Fort tours, and honor all those who have fought for our freedom.

 

SATURDAY, JULY 4

10 a.m. – Artillery Demonstration

11 a.m. – Artillery Demonstration

1 p.m. – Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort

2 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration

3 p.m. – Artillery Demonstration

 

Visitors and community members are reminded that fireworks are not permitted on the grounds of Fort Scott National Historic Site.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

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About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.

 

Credit Photo as: NPS Photo of an artillery firing.

 

 

Submitted by Carl Brenner
Program Manager for Interpretation and Resource Management
Fort Scott National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/fosc)

National Park Service, DOI Region 5

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Official US Flag Disposal Ceremony 

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Fort Scott, Kan. – Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., Fort Scott National Historic Site, American Legion Post 25, and Fort Scott Fire Department will be hosting an official US Flag Disposal Ceremony. Bring your: United States, POW/MIA, State, and Service (U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard) flags to the fort between now and 3:30 p.m. Saturday and we will properly and respectfully dispose of them. Just as there’s etiquette for displaying Old Glory, there’s also etiquette for disposing of flags in a dignified manner.

4 U.S. Code § 8k (Respect for flag) states that: The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. “As with celebrating this country’s newest citizens at our Naturalization Ceremony and honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom through the ‘Field of Honor’ during Symbols of Sacrifice, we are proud to be a part in honoring this country’s flag by hosting this ceremony,” said Jill Jaworski, Superintendent, Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

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Credit Photo as: NPS Photo

Submitted by

Carl Brenner
Program Manager for Interpretation and Resource Management
Fort Scott National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/fosc)

National Park Service, DOI Region 5

Office – 620-223-0310

www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS

www.instagram.com/FortScottNPS

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Native American Dance Presentation and Native Craft Workshop

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Fort Scott, Kan. – Learn Native American stories and experience dance performances by the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers. Then create traditional corn husk dolls in Native Plains fashion. All activities are free and open to the public.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

10 a.m.: Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort, meet in the Visitor Center

1 p.m.: Oklahoma Fancy Dancers (Native American Cultural Dance Presentation), Parade Ground

2:30 p.m.: Make & Take Traditional Native Corn Husk Doll Workshop for youth and some space for adults, meet inside of the Grand Hall

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

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Credit Photo as: NPS Photo

Fort Scott National Historic Site, History

Fort Scott National Historic Site to Host Annual Symbols of Sacrifice on May 22

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Photo: National Park Service.

 

Fort Scott, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site invites the public to help place flags for the annual “Symbols of Sacrifice” Field of Honor at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 22. Individuals, families and groups are welcome to participate and stay as long as they are available.

 

The display continues throughout Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25. The Field of Honor, featuring about 8,500 U.S. flags, commemorates members of the U.S. Armed Forces who gave their lives in service to the nation. The display is open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

 

Volunteers are also encouraged to help retire the display at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 26. The event will take place in all weather conditions.

 

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, began after the Civil War as a time to honor fallen service members. It was designated a federal holiday in 1971.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information or to learn how to get involved, call 620-223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

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