Category Archives: Fort Scott National Historic Site

Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Government

Explore the Labors that Created Fort Scott this Labor Day Weekend

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Saturday, August 31 through Monday, September 2, 2019, Fort Scott National Historic Site will take you on an exploration of the Labors leading to the creation of the “Crack Post on the Frontier”. Labor Day weekend activities include Native American dancing, artillery demonstrations, small arms drills, living history demonstrations and a variety of interpretive programs. All programs are free.

Saturday, September 1

10:00 am – Artillery Demonstration
11:00 am – Guided Tour of the Fort
12:00 pm – American Indian Dancing
1:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
3:00 pm – American Indian Dancing
4:00 pm – Flag Retreat

Sunday, September 2

11:00 am – Guided Tour
12:00 pm – Building the Crack Post of the Frontier-Interpretive Program
1:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
2:00 pm – Small Arms Weapons Drill
3:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration
4:00 pm – Flag Retreat

Monday, September 3

11:00 am – Guided Tour of the Fort
12:00 pm – Building the Crack Post of the Frontier-Interpretive Program
1:00 pm – Soapsuds Row-Laundress Program
2:00 pm – Securing the Perimeter –Guardhouse Program
3:00 pm – Construction Tour of Fort Scott
4:00 pm – Flag Retreat

All programs are free and open to the public. The site exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8 am -5 pm daily. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Help the Fort Scott Youth Team Search the Fort    

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Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is looking for clues during the Fort’s Junior Ranger Day Saturday, July 20, and ‘Texting and Twitter: 1840s style’ 10 am until 3 pm Saturday, July 27. Both Saturdays are for all ages.

Get clues from dragoon or infantry soldiers, a laundress, or other people from the fort as you search the grounds. The interactive Junior Ranger Day programs are separated into age brackets of 3-5, 5-7, and 8-up. We also encourage the young at heart, and older ‘Jr. Rangers’, to try our new ‘Fort Inspector’ program. This program will keep you on your toes and test your I-Spy skills as you search for items throughout the fort.  Upon completion of your Junior Ranger Program, you will be sworn in as an official Junior Ranger and awarded a Junior Ranger badge. This program runs continuously all day.

‘Texting and Twitter: 1840s style’ will give you clues into historic methods of communication including quill pen and ink well letter writing, deciphering messages in Morse code, and composing a ‘tweet’ for a historic news story.

All programs are free and open to the public. To participate, stop by the visitor center.

The site exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8 am -5 pm daily. The park grounds are open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset.

Area News, Fort Scott, Fort Scott National Historic Site

FSNHS: Public Response Brings Extra Week of Trailblazer Program

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Second Week of Trailblazer Program Announced at Fort Scott NHS this Summer!

FORT SCOTT, Kansas: Due to the popularity of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Trailblazer Program, we are pleased to announce that the program will be repeated for a second week from August 12-16, 2019. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. each day. The workshop will be the same as the one held the previous week, except that 12 additional children will be able to participate in the program.

Registration is underway. To sign-up, contact Fort Scott National Historic Site at (620) 223-0310 or email [email protected] with your name and phone number. Participants must be between ages 9-12 as of the beginning day of camp. Participants will be sent an informational packet after registration is complete. There is no charge for the day camp. Since space is limited to 12 participants, priority will be given to youth who have not attended before.

During this workshop, children will be introduced to the National Park Service mission of caring for the Nation’s natural and cultural heritage. They will search for treasure in a mock archaeological dig, explore the prairie, and discover methods used to preserve the buildings and artifacts of the fort. The students will engage in living history, be fielded in flag protocol, and will work on a play that they will present at the end of the week. Also, there will be green activities that will teach children how to use our resources wisely.

www.nps.gov/fosc

Fort Scott National Historic Site is a fee free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation. A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as, the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it. For more information about Fort Scott National Historic Site, please call the park at 620-223-0310, visit us at www.nps.gov/fosc, on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/FortScottNPS, and Instagram www.instagram.com/fortscottnps

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

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Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Independence Day At FSNHS

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Celebrate Independence Day with the Sights and Sounds of 1840’s Military Fireworks

FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Celebrate the anniversary of American independence with the sounds of cannon fire and homemade ice cream while honoring the service men and women who have defended the United States for the past 243 years. Thursday, July 4, Fort Scott National Historic Site will have artillery demonstrations twice each hour from noon until 4 pm. At 3:30 pm, we will pay tribute to the nation’s founders followed by a flag retreat at 4 pm.

The celebration continues on July 6 and 7 as you discover the rich history and significance of the fort. Experience frontier cooking demonstrations, play period games, see mock artillery and weapons drills, and explore the prairie grass as the fort comes to life before your eyes.

Thursday, July 4

12:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration

12:30 pm – Homemade Ice Cream

1:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration

2:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration

3:00 pm – Artillery Demonstration

3:30 pm – Tribute to the Founders

4:00 pm – Artillery Salute and Flag Retreat

Saturday, July 6

10:00 am – Prairie Walk

12:00 pm – An Arm and a Leg: 1840s Medical Program

1:00-3:00 pm – Let the Games Begin-Historic Games station

3:00-4:30 pm – Going Green: Historic Gardens station

4:00 – Flag Retreat

Sunday July 7

11:00 am – Guided Tour of the Fort

12:00 pm – A Hearty Grip

1:00 pm – Guided Tour

2:00 pm – Democracy Run Wild

3:00 pm – The Price of War

4:00 pm – Flag Retreat

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

To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310.

www.nps.gov/fosc

Fort Scott National Historic Site is a fee free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation. A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as, the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it. For more information about Fort Scott National Historic Site, please call the park at 620-223-0310, visit us at www.nps.gov/fosc, on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/FortScottNPS, and Instagram www.instagram.com/fortscottnps

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Flag Disposal Ceremony June 14

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Bring your Worn Flags to the Fort for a US Flag Disposal Ceremony

Fort Scott Kan. – This Friday, June 14, 2019, at 7 pm., Fort Scott National Historic Site (the Fort) and American Legion Post 25 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 at or before 7 pm Friday and we will properly and respectfully dispose of them.

“4 U.S. Code § 8k (Respect for the 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.’” said Betty Boyko, Superintendent, Fort Scott National Historic Site. “As with celebrating this countries newest citizens at our Naturalization Ceremony and honoring those we have lost 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.”

To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310.

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Good Ol’ Days at the Fort

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Experience growth and change from the ‘Good Ol’ Days’ at Fort Scott National Historic Site

The Good’ Ol’ Days are back Saturday, June 1, 2019 at Fort Scott National Historic Site. With the completion of the transcontinental railroad 150 years ago, growth and change were once again on the doorstep of Fort Scott.

Try your hand at using a telegraph or quill pens instead of texting, reminisce with reenactors about how life used to be, play traditional games, or learn about how the railroad changed the face of Fort Scott.

A surgical reenactor will be discussing historic medicine and then at 2 pm we will be landing AirMedCare’s air ambulance and hosting Fort Scott’s ground ambulance to discuss how medicine has improved.

Living history activities will be ongoing from 9 am – 4 pm. All activities are free and open to the public.

To find out more, please contact the park at 620-223-0310.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

9:00 a.m. – Raising the Colors

All Day – Telegraph and Quill Pens hands on Demonstrations, Living History Reenactments

10:00 a.m. – An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery Demonstration

11:00 a.m. – Guided Tour of the Fort

12: 00 p.m. – A Speck of War, The Military’s Involvement in Post-Civil War Fort Scott

1:00 p.m. – Railroads of Fort Scott program

2:00 p.m. – Landing AirMedCare’s air ambulance and hosting Fort Scott’s ground ambulance

4:00 p.m. – Flag Retreat

Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Symbols of Sacrifice Memorial At FSNHS This Weekend

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Symbols of Sacrifice event. Submitted photo.

Update: This is an all weather event. Programs will move indoors in case of inclement weather.

Thousands of American flags will be displayed in a Field of Honor at Fort Scott National Historic Site, in what is called Symbols of Sacrifice.

Fort Scott National Historic Site will be hosting “Symbols of Sacrifice” this Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 24 through, Monday, May 27.

We encourage community members and organizations to join the park in placing the flags Friday morning beginning at 9 am.

There will be guided tours daily at 11 am and 1 pm.

All weekend at 2:30 pm, we will have special programs.

Saturday will discuss the Mexican American War;

Sunday, the Civil War -A Most Diverse Army;

and Monday, a special Memorial Day program followed by a Moment of Silence at 3 pm.

Saturday, May 25 at 4 pm, Ralph Carlson and Arnold Schofield will present “The Vacant Chair” followed by musicians performing a special concert of patriotic music.

“The approximately 7,000 flags commemorate the ultimate sacrifice members of the United States Armed Forces have made to keep this country free,” said Betty Boyko, Superintendent, Fort Scott National Historic Site.

To find out more and to become involved, please contact the park at 620-223-0310.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, Uncategorized

Fort Coordinates Prescribed Fire

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Nearly Five Acres Successfully Treated with Prescribed Fire at Fort Scott National Historic Site

 

Fort Scott Kan. – Yesterday, Park managers at Fort Scott National Historic Site, in coordination with Fire Managers at the US Fish and Wildlife Service from Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, successfully treated five acres with prescribed (Rx) fire in the park’s restored tallgrass prairie.

“We are pleased with the outcome and professional manner in which the Rx burn was conducted,” said Betty Boyko, Superintendent, Fort Scott National Historic Site. “These prescribed fires, reduce the fuel load, suppress the invasive woody plants and cool season grasses, and stimulate native plants.”

The park will begin rotating the burn cycle between seasons to maintain plant diversity as this more closely approximates the natural fire regime in Eastern Kansas where lightning-ignited fires occurred most frequently during the dry summer months (July and August) and Native Americans burned most extensively in the late fall, particularly October.

Prescribed fires play on important role in the ecosystem. However, spot treatments and manual pulling are still necessary. To find out more on how to become involved, please contact the park at 620-223-0310.

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Prairie Fire at FSNHS on April 28

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Prairie Prescribed Fire Planned at Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott Kan. – Park managers at Fort Scott National Historic Site, in coordination with Fire Managers with the US Fish and Wildlife Service from Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, plan to burn the five-acre restored prairie just after 4 pm. Sunday, April 28, 2019.  The ignition will depend upon weather conditions and the burn may be postponed or canceled if conditions are unfavorable.

“We were very excited to be able to implement this project as an in-season prescribed fire (Rx) with the assistance of our interagency neighbors. Our ability to treat the tallgrass prairie at a time of year when fires naturally occur enhances the resilience of the ecosystem and protection of visitors, the infrastructure of Fort Scott National Historic Site, and the city of Fort Scott,” said Betty Boyko, Superintendent, Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Like all prescribed fires, the plans for the tallgrass prairie Rx contain a set of parameters which define (among other things) the expected weather and fuel conditions under which the fire can be initiated. Prior to implementing the burn, fire managers will evaluate current conditions and will only ignite the fire if all of the prescribed conditions are within those parameters.

During typical prescribed fire activity, daytime smoke disperses to the northeast, up and over the highway.  Coordination with the City of Fort Scott, Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas State Highway Patrol, and Kansas Department of Transportation is already underway for this prescribed fire.  Smoke impacts or traffic delays on Highway 69 should not occur during the burn.

Area News, Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Come To The Fort For Living History April 27-28

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A sewing circle. NPS photo.
History re-enactors and volunteers will be portraying life during the Civil War era at Fort Scott National Historic Site this weekend, April 27-28
The Holmes Brigade, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, Western Bluecoats Field Hospital, Friends of Fort Scott NHS, Inc., and Fort Scott National Historic Site volunteers  will be demonstrating cooking, sewing, period games, and other activities about life at the fort during this time period.

The artillery. NPS photo.
The times for the events:

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

  • 9:00 a.m.             Raising the Colors
  • 10:00 a.m.           Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 10:30 a.m.           Lunette Blair Block House Program
  • 10:45 a.m.           Cooking Demonstrations:  (All day)
  • 11:00 a.m.           Cavalry Drill
  • 11:30 a.m.           An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 12:00 noon          Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 1:00 p.m.             Ordered  To Be Shot: Civil War Courts Martial
  • 2:00 p.m.             Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 2:30 p.m.             An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 3:00 p.m.             Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 4:00 p.m.             Flag Retreat

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

  • 9:00 a.m.              Raising the Colors
  • 10:00 a.m.           Church Service
  • 11:00 a.m.           Cooking Demonstration
  • 11:30 a.m.           Infantry Dress Parade and Inspection
  • 12:00 noon          Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 1:00 p.m.             Cavalry Drill
  • 1:30 p.m.             An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 2:00 p.m.             Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 2:30 p.m.             Conceived in Liberty:  An Interpretive Dialog
  • 3:00 p.m.             Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration

The address of the fort is 1 Old Fort Blvd, Fort Scott,  at the north end of Main Street.

The infantry. NPS photo.
Submitted by:
Carl Brenner
Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management
Fort Scott National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/fosc)
Cell – 785-521-5371
Office – 620-223-0310
Fort Scott National Historic Site

Civil War Encampment April 27-28 at FSNHS

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Smell, hear and see the Civil War at Fort Scott National Historic Site

Without having to enlist

FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site is hosting the Annual Civil War Encampment, 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., April 27 and 28.  Experience artillery, cavalry and infantry troops preparing for battle. Cooking demonstrations will be in the mess hall and the post sutler will be hawking his wares in the sutler store. A Civil War doctor will be promoting period medical practices and reenactors will be discussing surgery of the era, sometimes at the cost of “an arm and a leg.”

“This is our 37th annual encampment,” Superintendent Betty Boyko said. “You feel history come to life through the generous support provided by volunteer members of the Holmes Brigade, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, Western Bluecoats Field Hospital, Friends of Fort Scott NHS, Inc., and a host of Fort Scott National Historic Site volunteers.”

Park volunteers and staff will be leading a variety of programs. Saturday: discussions around the importance of the Lunette Blair Block House (adjacent to the park) and stories of Civil War courts martial at Fort Scott. Sunday: period church services and explore the meanings of states’ rights vs federal authority in “Conceived in Liberty.”

Encampment Schedule:

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

  • 9:00 a.m.             Raising the Colors
  • 10:00 a.m.           Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 10:30 a.m.           Lunette Blair Block House Program
  • 10:45 a.m.           Cooking Demonstrations:  (All day)
  • 11:00 a.m.           Cavalry Drill
  • 11:30 a.m.           An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 12:00 noon          Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 1:00 p.m.             Ordered  To Be Shot: Civil War Courts Martial
  • 2:00 p.m.             Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 2:30 p.m.             An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 3:00 p.m.             Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 4:00 p.m.             Flag Retreat

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

  • 9:00 a.m.              Raising the Colors
  • 10:00 a.m.           Church Service
  • 11:00 a.m.           Cooking Demonstration
  • 11:30 a.m.           Infantry Dress Parade and Inspection
  • 12:00 noon          Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 1:00 p.m.             Cavalry Drill
  • 1:30 p.m.             An Arm and a Leg: The Cost of Surgery
  • 2:00 p.m.             Infantry Drill and Weapons Demonstration
  • 2:30 p.m.             Conceived in Liberty:  An Interpretive Dialog
  • 3:00 p.m.             Artillery Drill and Weapons Demonstration

-NPS-

Fort Scott National Historic Site

April 1 Starts Longer Operation Hours at Fort Scott National Historic Site

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Spring Hours of Operation for Fort Scott National Historic Site

 

Fort Scott KS – As the days grow longer, so do the hours of operation at Fort Scott National Historic Site. Beginning Monday, April 1, the park visitor center, Park store, and historic structures will be open daily from 8:00 am–5:00 pm. The park grounds, walkways, and parking lot are open from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset daily.

Park Rangers are on hand and happy to help you learn more about the area and plan your visit. For more information about Fort Scott National Historic Site programs, upcoming events such as the annual spring Civil War Encampment (April 27 & 28), Symbols of Sacrifice (May 24 through 27), Candlelight Tour (December 6 & 7), or other activities, please call the park at 620-223-0310, or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

Fort Scott National Historic Site is a fee-free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation through a short film, interactive audio-visual programs, displays, the museum, and historic objects. A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as, the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it.