Category Archives: History

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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Gordon Parks Museum, History, Kansas

“The Kansas City Monarchs and America’s National Pastime” Rescheduled to Feb. 14

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Presentation Explores the History of Baseball in Kansas

Rescheduled Due to Forecasted Weather

 

Fort Scott, Kan. With the potential winter storm that is forecasted for this Wednesday, Feb 12, the Gordon Parks Museum hosted event “The Kansas City Monarchs and America’s National Pastime,” a presentation and discussion by Phil Dixon is rescheduled to Friday, February 14, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at The Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center at 2108 S. Horton St. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 ext. 5850 for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.

 

This is a free Lunch and Learn event, with desserts provided by Great West Dining. Drinks and chips will also be provided. Fort Scott T-Mobile will also have a table set up for free raffle drawing for a chance for the attendees to win T-Mobile prizes.

 

“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend this presentation event to learn more about the Kansas City Monarchs” said Museum Director, Kirk Sharp.

 

2020 marked two major milestones for baseball: the Negro Leagues celebrated their 100th anniversary and Major League Baseball merged statistics of these African American players with those of the major league. The history of Negro League baseball in America mirrors the racial strife experienced by African Americans in society. It was plagued by discrimination, racism, and inequity, while its athletes were celebrated for their resiliency, professionalism, and athleticism. The Kansas City Monarchs barnstormed across Kansas and the region to play more than 400 games between 1920 and 1957 against local towns. This talk sheds new light on this sports history and the history of baseball in Kansas.

 

Phil S. Dixon a co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. He is the author of nine books about baseball, including biographies about Wilber “Bullet” Rogan and John “Buck” O’Neil. In the course of his research, he has interviewed over 500 former Negro League players and family members.

 

“The Kansas City Monarchs and America’s National Pastime” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Speakers Bureau, featuring humanities-based presentations designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.

 

For more information about “The Kansas City Monarchs and America’s National Pastime” in Fort Scott, Kansas, contact the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 ext.5850 or visit gordonparkscenter.org.

 

About Humanities Kansas

Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit leading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.

 

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History

ARTEFFECT JOINS IN CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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Unsung Heroes from top left to bottom right: Elizabeth Jennings Graham, Vivien Thomas, Autherine Lucy Foster, Lt. James Reese Europe, Claudette Colvin, and Olaudah Equiano.
ARTEFFECT JOINS IN CELEBRATING
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
ARTEFFECT celebrates Black History Month by spotlighting these remarkable  individuals listed below. From pioneers in civil rights and education to trailblazers in science, the arts, and beyond, these Unsung Heroes have made a positive and lasting impact on history. Learn about their stories below:

Through ARTEFFECT, educators and their students are invited to consider and creatively interpret the stories of Unsung Heroes through visual artworks and written impact statements. See the full list of LMC Unsung Heroes here, or download a printable directory below:
Download Unsung Heroes Directory
2025 Competition – Digital Poster
– Classroom Resource –
The 2025 ARTEFFECT competition, open through April 27, 2025, invites submissions from students worldwide in grades 6-12 interested in making a positive social impact through their art. Students choose Unsung Heroes from the pre-approved list, and celebrate their stories through their ARTEFFECT projects. Various 2D & 3D mediums are eligible with multiple prize categories. Download the digital poster for your classroom to get ready for the competition!
Download ARTEFFECT Competition Poster
Learn more about the ARTEFFECT annual student art competition.

Gordon Parks Museum, History

Martin Luther King Jr. Events Are Announced

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Sending on behalf of Chamber member…..

Gordon Parks Museum’s upcoming community events to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wednesday, January 15th

“I Have A Dream” Lunch & Learn Tribute Reading Event

12-1pm

Free Event

Lunch: Soup, Drinks, & Desserts provided by Great Western Dining.

Located at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center

2108 S. Horton St.

Monday, January 20th

“Canned & Non-Perishable Food Drive” Located at Gordon Parks Museum

2108 S. Horton St.

Donations will be accepted at the museum from 9am-2pm

Monday, January 20th

“The Power of Imagery and Civil Rights Experience”

Lunch & Learn

12-1pm

Free Event

Lunch provided by Dunk’s BBQ.

Drinks & Desserts provided by Great Western Dining.

Located at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center

2108 S. Horton St.

Click HERE to visit the Gordon Parks Website.

Click HERE to follow the Gordon Parks Facebook Page.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Bourbon County, History

Veteran’s Graves Will Be Decorated On December 13 at Uniontown Cemetery

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Uniontown Cemetery is east of the town on Maple Road.

At 1 p.m. Friday, December 13 a holiday wreath presentation ceremony will take place at the Uniontown Cemetery, east of the town on Maple Road, to honor the veterans buried there.

The Uniontown Ruritan has organized the ceremony, which will include a speaker and patriotic songs by the Uniontown High Band and the Uniontown High School Choir.

The names of every veteran buried in this cemetery will be read while the wreaths are placed on the graves.

“This is not affiliated with the Wreaths Across America program,” Mary Pemberton, Ruritan member said. “Because Uniontown Cemetery is not a national cemetery, we do not receive a price break on wreaths like the Fort Scott National Cemetery does. In consideration of citizen donations and cost-effectiveness, we decided to purchase decorated manufactured wreaths that can be reused for several years, rather than purchasing through the WAA program, which are live, one-time-use wreaths.”

“Matt Crystal from the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be the speaker,” said Mark Warren, a Ruritan member who is organizing the event. “The UHS band, choir, basketball, and National Honor Society will be assisting the Uniontown Ruritan in doing this.”

The public is invited.

 

Art, Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government, History

Tourism Grants Awarded to The Artificers and The Lowell Milken Center Today

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Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director Lindsay Madison takes a photo of Kate and Trent Freeman accepting an award from Kansas Tourism on December 9. Taken from the Chamber’s Facebook page.

Kansas Tourism Department Director Bridgett Jobe handed over two grants today in Fort Scott.

“You can see that Fort Scott is going through a renaissance,” Jobe told attendees at the Artificers reception for the award presentation.

The Artificers

Kate and Trent Freeman were awarded the $25,000 grant designed to help local businesses develop new attractions.

“They have had an instrumental role in rehabilitating our downtown area….with an innovative approach to enhance the beauty of this community for years to come,” Bourbon County Economic Development Director Rob Harrington said.

Jobe told reception attendees that the Freeman’s “passion for the community really came through.”

 

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Taken from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Kansas Tourism presented the LMC with a check to expand attractions.

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes also received a $6,300 check from Kansas Tourism Director Bridgett Jobe today.

The grant is to help expand attractions that draw tourists to the community.

The center will use the funds to create a new history panel on an unsung hero in Ukraine who saved 100’s of children from starvation in her Ukrainian town, said Ronda Hassig, spokesperson for LMC.

“The Lowell Milken Center is a treasure,” Jobe, said. “Coming here inspires me to be a better person. It inspires me that it’s here in Kansas.”