Category Archives: History

Fort Scott National Historic Site, History

Celebrate the National Park Service’s Anniversary at Fort Scott NHS

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Fort Scott, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site celebrates the anniversary of the National Park Service, Monday, August 25, 2025, with a series of family-friendly games, trivia, a scavenger hunt throughout the day, fort tours at 10 am and 1 pm, and a musical and a performance by the 1st Infantry Division Band from Fort Riley. Activities are appropriate for visitors of all ages and abilities.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site will host the 1st Infantry Division Band from Fort Riley beginning at 6 pm. The performance will be on the bricks in front of the Post Hospital/Visitor Center. Bring your lawn chair to ensure seating.

 

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the “Organic Act” which stated that the purpose of the newly formed National Park Service was “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” What better way to celebrate the Park Service’s anniversary than with a fun-filled day in your national park with the family!

 

Fort Scott and Fort Riley have a connection. Fort Scott closed operations in 1853, the same year Fort Riley was opened. The Fort Scott Dragoons and the Fort Riley Cavalry both shared portions of the same mission at different times, providing protection on the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails.

 

Historical Note of Interest about the band: One notable example of the use of bands in Vietnam was the “Thunder Road” incident, which received national publicity. Major General John Hay, Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division, ordered his band to march down “Thunder Road” for a distance of one mile while playing the march Colonel Bogey. This road was critical to the division but was under the control of a North Vietnamese Army regiment located less than a mile away. The enemy confused by the action withdrew from the area. The 1st Infantry Division Band fulfilled a remarkable combat mission without firing a shot.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site is one of 430+ nationally significant sites and is truly the story of America growing up.

 

-NPS-

 

Credit Photo as: Image of NPS arrowhead, 1st Infantry Division Band’s logo, and A Company of the 1st Dragoons guidon.

 

Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum, History

Wayman Chapel AME Church Commemorative Park to Receive Display Signs Installation

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The Gordon Parks Museum is pleased to announce the installation of
informational display signs and a welcome sign at the Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME)
Church Commemorative Park, located at 301 S. Lowman Street in Fort Scott.

Installation is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

“They are hoping to arrive mid-morning around 10:30 am or so,” said the museum director, Kirk Sharp. “The sign vendor is Lark Label, in Wichita, KS.”

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AME Church
Gordon Parks, 1950.
Photo Courtesy of and Copyright by The Gordon Parks Foundation. Submitted photo.

This historic site, once home to the oldest Black church in Fort Scott. The property land of the Wayman Chapel
AME Church, was donated to the Gordon Parks Museum by Fort Scott resident Josh Jones, through the Fort
Scott Community College Foundation. The church was regularly attended by Gordon Parks and his family and
was even featured in a scene from Parks’ acclaimed film, The Learning Tree.

The property has since been transformed into a commemorative, low-maintenance park honoring the legacy of
the church.

 

Wayman Chapel AME Church Commemorative Park, 301 S. Lowman, Fort Scott, KS. Photo taken by 2025 Choice of Weapon Honoree, Michael Cheers

 

The new display signage includes four large storyboard panels (76” x 27”) featuring photos,
graphics, and text that highlight the church’s rich history and its vital role in the local Black community. These
panels will be installed on a concrete slab beneath an already completed pergola structure (12’ x 20’). In
addition, a large 4’ x 3’ welcome sign will greet visitors at the park entrance.

“We are very excited about this park, which pays tribute to the historic Wayman Chapel AME Church,
established in 1866 by the grandparents of Professor E. J. Hawkins,” said Gordon Parks Museum Executive
Director Kirk Sharp. “We are incredibly grateful to all of the sponsors who helped make this commemorative
park a reality, especially Josh Jones and the Foundation. This Park ensures that this important chapter of Fort
Scott’s history continues to be honored and shared. It also sits along our Learning Tree Film Sign Trail, adding
even more depth to its significance

“The commemorative project has been made possible with generous support from: Bourbon County Historical
Association, City of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, Fort Scott Community College
Foundation, The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), Josh
Jones, Rick Mayhew, My One Stop, Marbery Concrete, Inc., and Kansas Tourism.

Wayman Chapel AME Church, originally established in 1866, moved to its final location at the corner of Third
and Lowman in 1885. For more than 115 years, it served as a spiritual and cultural hub for Fort Scott’s Black
community. Due to declining membership and unsafe building conditions, the church was eventually
condemned and razed in the early 2000s.

Today, its legacy lives on. A stained-glass window and two original
pews from the church are on permanent exhibit at the Gordon Parks Museum.
The AME church was Fort Scott’s first and oldest black church with Shiloh Baptist being the second.
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Bourbon County, Fort Scott, History

Volunteers Needed To Get The Old Fort Genealogy Society Reopened

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The Professional Building, located at 2801 S. Horton, is situated across from the former Mercy Hospital, which is now home to several entities.

 

For those interested in learning more about their family history in Bourbon County, the Old Fort Genealogy Society is a valuable resource to the community.

“Many people don’t know what we have to offer,” said Susan Karleskint, president of the society. ” We have tons of Bourbon County history….birth records, death records, cemeteries, pictures.”

“We provide help to people who are researching their families in Bourbon County,” she said. “In addition, we have moved beyond genealogical to historical.”

The society is non-profit.

“We don’t charge, but do ask for a donation, should they want to give one,” she said.

In early 2025, the society’s board began searching for an alternative location. The location they were at, in the basement of Memorial Hall, was too small for all the records they housed, and the cost of renovating to a different part of that building was too high.

They found a much larger site for their services at 2801 S. Horton, in the Professional Building,  north of the old Mercy Hospital.

In the spring, they began the move to that building, which has been vacant for several years.

“We have encountered some ‘hiccups’ along the way that have slowed our progress,” Karleskint said.

“The space is futuristic,” she said. “We can grow. We had a lot of things that couldn’t be put out (in the prior building), but now can be.”

The space is almost 4,000 square feet.

Now the board members are seeking volunteers to help them get open to the public.

“Volunteers are needed to unpack items….to go to the bookshelves,” she said.  “Currently, there are three to four of us. We need helpers in order to get us open.”

“When our doors open, we will have a need for volunteers who would be willing to help at least 1/2 day per week.”

Contact them at 602.223.3300. “If that number is not currently answered, an individual may call my phone at 620-224-6613,” Karleskint said.

The board consists of Karleskint, Ralph Carlson, Peggy Cummings, Shirley Hurd, Jim Logan, Terry Sercer, and Don Tucker.

Karleskint said she wanted to thank this board for all of the time and energy they have contributed in the past few
months.

 

 

Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott National Historic Site, History

FREE ICE CREAM AT FORT SCOTT NHS THIS SATURDAY

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There is nothing that says summer more than ice cream.  Start your summer off right with a free sweet treat being offered at Fort Scott National Historic Site from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm,  Saturday, June 28.  This ice cream social is being sponsored by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site in conjunction with other fort activities.

The Friends will also be selling chances to win an authentic reproduction of an 1833 Dragoon saber.  A drawing to select the winner will be held September 8, 2025, at the Friends of FSNHS annual meeting. Chances are $10 each and $25 for three.  All proceeds will benefit activities and operations at Fort Scott National Historic Site.

 

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History, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Anne Frank Exhibit will be at the Lowell Milken Center June 2nd-26th

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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Lowell Milken Center

for Unsung Heroes

Anne Frank: A History For Today

Experience Anne Frank’s story like never before!

Exhibit will be at the Lowell Milken Center

June 2nd-26th

1 South Main St.

Fort Scott, KS

Information/Questions: 620-223-1312

Lowell Milken Center Hours:

M-F 10am-5pm

Sat. 10am-4pm

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is honored to

announce the arrival of a powerful international traveling exhibit, Anne Frank: A History for Today, coming to Fort Scott this June.

This impactful exhibit, presented in partnership with the Anne Frank Center—official partner of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam for the United States and Canada—offers visitors a rare and meaningful opportunity to learn more about Anne Frank, her family, and their courageous actions during one of history’s darkest periods.

Through historical photos, powerful stories, and visuals of the actual Anne Frank House,visitors will be immersed in the life of a young girl whose words and resilience have touched millions around the world.

The Center is especially proud to share that this exhibit was made possible through the efforts of Megan Helberg, a 2021 Lowell Milken Center Fellow and the current Program Coordinator for the Anne Frank Center. Her connection to both organizations helped bring this significant educational opportunity to Fort Scott.

“We are proud to be the featured location for this meaningful exhibit,” said Norm Conard, Executive Director of the Lowell Milken Center. “Anne Frank’s story remains as relevant today as ever—reminding us of the dangers of prejudice and the strength of hope.”

The exhibit will be displayed from June 2nd through June 26th at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes at 1 South Main Street in Fort Scott. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Center is closed on Sundays. Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Click HERE for Lowell Milken Center’s website!

Click HERE to visit Lowell Milken Center’s Facebook Page!

A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Clothing, Entertainment, Fort Scott National Historic Site, History

Native American Dance Presentation and Feather Workshop

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Courtesy of National Park Service.

 

Fort Scott, Kan. – Learn Native American stories and experience dance performances by the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers. Then learn how to work with Feathers that adorn the dancers in traditional 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 Feather 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, exhibit areas and visitor center are currently open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

-NPS-

 

 

Fort Scott, History, Schools, Youth

Fort Scott National History Day State Champions Set to Present at Christian Learning Center

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Kenlee Eden, Kodie Wells, and Blair Felt. Submitted photo.
Hadley Wells,  Charlee Wells, Klair Kobernat, and Bella Antone. Submitted photo.

Southeast Kansas will send two projects to the National History Day Championship in College Park, Maryland, June 8-12. Five projects from Christian Learning Center attended the State National History Day Championships in Topeka in April.

The Fort Scott State Champion groups competing at Nationals in June will present their performances at 6:30 PM on Thursday, May 29th, at the Christian Learning Center in Fort Scott. This presentation will allow the students to practice sharing their projects and raise funds for their trip to College Park, MD. The community is invited to attend and support the two groups of students. Attendees can enter through the CLC Gym doors.

The following students are State Champions and will be sharing their projects on May 29th:

Kenlee Eden, Blair Felt, and Kodie Wells from Fort Scott Christian Learning Center will participate in the Senior Group Performance category, coached by Megan Felt and Rachel Wells. Their project is entitled Elzbieta Ficowska: Embracing Her Responsibility to Take a Stand for the Rights of the Polish People. Their project is a performance based on Elzbieta Ficowska. As a baby, Elzbieta was rescued by Irena Sendler from the Warsaw Ghetto and would grow up to become a leader in the Polish Solidarity Movement. As a leader in the Polish Solidarity Movement, Elzbieta Ficowska worked to bring rights and freedoms back to Polish citizens in the 1980s. The people of Poland believed it was their responsibility to free the nation from Communism.

 

Bella Antone, Klaire Kobernat, Charlee Wells and Hadley Wells from Fort Scott Christian Learning Center participated in the Junior Group Performance category at the State National History Day competition, coached by Rachel Wells. Their project is Miners Labor Rights: Mary Skubitz the Voice Above the Ground Who Rose to Fight. The performance is based on the actions of Mary Skubitz and the Amazon Army in Crawford County. In 1921, Mary Skubitz led the Amazon Army to march for the rights of the men and children working in coal mines. They felt it was their responsibility as family, to march for fair payment and working conditions. This march of over six thousand women brought the miners’ struggles for fair labor laws to the surface all around the state of Kansas.

 

 

History Day encourages students to express their knowledge of and interest in history through creative and original dramatic performances, media presentations, historical papers, website design, or three-dimensional exhibit projects. The research and study for district, state, and national competitions take place throughout the entire school year.

The national competition involves the top 2,800 students from across the nation, chosen from over 800,000 who compete to advance from local to state to national competition. All 50 states and several countries will be represented at the National competition. The theme this year is “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”

The Lowell Milken Center provides critiques and helps with research for National History Day Unsung Hero projects from Kansas and throughout the United States.

Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College, Gordon Parks Museum, History

Gordon Parks Museum Thanks the Kansas Arts Commission for Continued Support

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Gordon Parks. Submitted photo.

Fort Scott, Kan. May. 21, 2025 – The Gordon Parks Museum extends its sincere gratitude to the Kansas Arts Commission for its generous and continued support. Our 2024 Annual Gordon Parks Celebration and the Martin Luther King Celebration that was held in January, 2025 were made possible in part by funding from the State of Kansas through the Kansas Arts Commission (a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

In addition to recent support through the 2024 General Support Grant, we are deeply appreciative of the Kansas Arts Commission’s dedication and investment in our mission over the years. Their ongoing commitment to promoting and sustaining the arts has played a vital role in the success of our events, programs, and initiatives.

The funding the museum received helped tremendously in presenting the 21st Annual Gordon Parks Celebration and this year’s Martin Luther King Celebration that took place in January, 2025. This vital support ensures that the legacy of Gordon Parks and the diverse stories and cultures of Kansas can be shared with audiences locally and nationally.

Full funding of the Kansas Arts Commission and the NEA is essential to sustaining the creative lifeblood of Kansas communities. Their support empowers museums, artists, and organizations across the state to thrive.

We are truly thankful for the Kansas Arts Commission and encourage others to stand with us in supporting the arts in Kansas.

Help support the arts through the NEA and the Kansas Arts Commission, because Kansas stories matter.

Submitted by Kirk Sharp, director.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site, History

National Park Service Augmented Reality Pilot at Fort Scott

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The Fort Scott National Historic Site Quartermasters Complex. Submitted photo.

 

Time Travel at the Tap of a Finger

 

Fort Scott, Kan. – Travel back in time using just your phone, the NPS App, and the tap of a finger.

Beginning Friday, May 23, 2025, Fort Scott National Historic Site is proud to pilot the first-ever augmented reality (AR) experience of digitally reconstructing historic structures in a national park through the NPS App.

 

At the heart of this immersive journey is the Quartermaster’s Complex—once the pulse of the fort. In partnership with GuideOne Mobile, the park has brought these vital support structures back to life through AR. Explore the quadrangle as it existed nearly two centuries ago. Hear the sounds of daily operations and uncover the often-overlooked stories of the people and processes that kept the fort running. Each virtual building reveals a new layer of history and purpose.

This is the first in a series of AR experiences planned at the national park.

Discover Fort Scott Like Never Before—Through the power of technology and the NPS App! The official NPS App, available for iOS and Android, offers an immersive way to experience the park—whether you’re on-site, exploring from home, or almost anywhere around the world.

 

Get Started:

Download the NPS App from the App Store or Google Play. Visit the park’s mobile app page for links and more info: www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/photosmultimedia/mobileapp.htm. Open the app and tap the Fort Scott Quartermaster Complex image to begin your journey.

 

On-Site Visitors: Start your exploration at the Quartermaster Complex display panel to see the buildings in their original locations.

 

Exploring from Afar? Select “Place Manually” in the app to begin a virtual visit of Fort Scott.

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are currently open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

-NPS-

 

Credit Photo as: NPS Photo, Augmented Reality view of the Quartermaster Complex.

History

Get Ready for America’s 250th

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As America approaches the 250th anniversary in 2026 of the ratification of our Declaration of Independence, the local Molly Foster Berry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is planning activities to commemorate this significant anniversary. The first event will be a free genealogy workshop on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 10:00 to 2:00 at the Fort Scott Community College Library in Bailey Hall, 2108 South Horton, Fort Scott, Kansas.

 

A visiting team of genealogists from the Kansas Society of Daughters of the American Revolution will be at the workshop to present and assist attendees with researching their family history.  “If you have ever wondered if you have an ancestor who contributed to American independence, either by serving as a soldier or by providing civilian assistance to the war effort, this is your opportunity to get help with research,”  chapter Regent Barbara Ritter stated.

 

Attendees are requested to pre-register by contacting either Barbara Ritter (913-636-4892, [email protected]) or Jean Strader (620-778-0266, [email protected]). Please RSVP by May 14, 2025. Anyone who is interested in DAR but is unable to attend the workshop, please contact Barbara Ritter.  There is no charge for the workshop.

 

Upon pre-registration, attendees will be emailed a generation chart to be filled out and brought to the workshop. The chart covers three generations (yourself as the first generation, your birth parents as the second, and your great-grandparents as the third). Information needed includes full names, birth dates and places, marriage dates and places, and death dates and places, or as much of that information is available to you for all three generations. If attendees have information on any earlier generations, they are encouraged to also bring that to the workshop.

 

Any woman 18 years or older may join DAR by documenting her lineage to an ancestor, male or female, who aided in the cause of American independence through military, civil, or patriotic service. Founded in 1890, the DAR is one of the largest women’s lineage based, nonpartisan, and patriotic nonprofits in the world, with 185,000 current members and approximately 3,000 local chapters. The DAR mission encompasses three key areas: historic preservation, education, and patriotism.

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Fort Scott National Historic Site, History

Experience Life at Fort Scott During the Civil War…Without Needing to Enlist!

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Fort Scott, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site is hosting its Annual Civil War Encampment, April 12 and 13, 2025.  Join us each day to experience cavalry and infantry troops drilling, preparing for battle, and sharing stories of life during the Civil War. Talk to a blacksmith as he brings raw metal to life with his hammer, learn the process of crafting lead musket balls, and speak with volunteers portraying some of the women who provided support to the troops and operations during the Civil War.

 

Long-time volunteer Michelle Martin will share the incredible Civil War experience of Emma Caroline Morely.  Emma helped the women of Fort Scott care for the sick and wounded in the aftermath of the Battle of Mine Creek. Emma’s diminutive diary provides us with incredible information and insight about the roles of women and communities during times of war. Long-time volunteer Jan Elder will share stories about the many women who participated in battles during the Civil War in “They Fought like Demons.” Listen to roving minstrels,  learn about Civil War medicine and candle making, and participate in discussions about artillery of the times. Bring the family or friends and challenge them to a tug-o-war and other play historic lawn games. Saturday evening the Friends of Fort Scott is hosting a Civil War-era camp dance. The weekend is full of fun for the whole family straight from the 1800’s!

 

Encampment Program Schedule:

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 12

Interpreters will be around the site throughout the day.

9:30 a.m.           Raising the Colors (Garrison Flagpole)

10 a.m.               Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (Meet at Visitor Center)

10:30 a.m.         “They Fought Like Demons”: Women Soldiers in the Civil War (Hospital Porch)

11 a.m.               Infantry Firing Discussions (Black Powder Area)

Noon                  Artillery Discussion (Post Headquarters)

1 p.m.                 Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (Meet at Visitor Center)

1:30 p.m.           “I Thought This Place Doomed”: Emma Caroline Morely’s Fort Scott Service

2 p.m.                 Infantry Firing Discussions (Black Powder Area)

3 p.m.                 They Fought Like Demons, Women Soldiers in the Civil War (Hospital Porch)

3:30 p.m.           Mustering Out (Near Quartermaster’s Storehouse)

4:30 p.m.           Flag Retreat with Infantry (Garrison Flagpole)

7 p.m.                 Camp Dance (Memorial Hall)

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 13

Interpreters will be around the site throughout the day.

9 a.m.                 Raising the Colors (Garrison Flagpole)

9:30 am             Historic Church Service (Near Dragoon Barracks)

10 a.m.               Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (Meet at Visitor Center)

10:30 a.m.         Artillery Discussion (Post Headquarters)

11 a.m.               Infantry Firing Discussions (Black Powder Area)

Noon                  Artillery Discussion (Post Headquarters)

1 p.m.                 Ranger Guided Tour of the Fort (Meet at Visitor Center)

1:30 p.m.           “I Thought This Place Doomed”: Emma Caroline Morely’s Fort Scott Service

2 p.m.                 Infantry Firing Discussions (Black Powder Area)

3:30 p.m.           Mustering Out (Near Quartermaster’s Storehouse)

4:30 p.m.           Flag Retreat with Infantry (Garrison Flagpole)

 

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are currently open Friday through Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.

 

-NPS-

 

Credit Photo as: NPS Photo/V. Wright, Holmes Brigade Infantry Marching

 

Entertainment, Fort Scott, History

CIVIL WAR CAMP DANCE FEATURED THIS WEEKEND

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Dust off your dancing shoes and mark your calendar for the Civil War Camp Dance this Saturday, April 12.  The fun filled evening, hosted by the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site Inc., is being held at Memorial Hall 1 East 3rd Street in Fort Scott and will feature 19th century music, Victorian dance instruction and light refreshments.  Doors open at 6:00 pm with dancing to begin at 7:00 pm. Admission is $15 per person or $25 per couple. Period dress is encouraged but not required.

Dancing was a favorite form of entertainment during the Victorian era (1840s-1890s) and especially during the Civil War as it offered respite from the worries and horrors of a war that affected the entire nation. Come find some respite from your own busy schedule as you are transported to times past.  All ages are welcome and no prior dance experience is necessary to enjoy the evening.

This event is being offered in conjunction with Fort Scott National Historic Site’s (FSNHS) Civil War Encampment. For more information concerning FSNHS’s Civil War Encampment go www.nps.gov/fosc.

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.

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