Fort Scott National Historic Site

This is a very nice place to check out! Even when the weather’s not so great and only half the buildings are open, it is still an interesting look at the past and very well kept by the National Park Service. We found all of the open areas very intriguing, especially the jail type cells, laundry, kitchen, and stables. It has a calm and soothing vibe somehow, as silly as that may sound, and it’s easy to take it all in with just 30 minute or an hour to spend, if you are simply passing through. Parking is right next to the fort so there’s no issue with accessing the areas and you could take a walk here even when all of it is closed (daytime hours) because there’s no gate to impede entry. There’s a trail called Tallgrass marked as ¼ mile but it honestly felt less like a trail and more like walking a few feet through someone’s lawn. Everything is located centrally near some quaint shopping and a couple of restaurant options (I recommend nearby Papa Don’s for their pizza).

We stopped by this site while in Ft. Scott. The staff was very friendly in which one of the Rangers shared some canning stories with us. The intern was also very nice to us. The place is laid out well including having a short 20 minute video that plays in a theatre in one of the buildings that will inform you on the history of the fort. Its no cost to you, so stop on by and I really recommend doing that then strolling down the streets of Historic Ft. Scott to visit the shops.

What a great site! This is my first official Civil War historical site and it was a nice one. Lots of restored or rebuild buildings, a nice video explanation and much more.

We stopped here on a day when they were doing a civil war reenactment and it was so great. The people who were presenting were very knowledgeable, and the rooms they had opened and set up with people in costume were great. Everyone in our family enjoyed going here and that’s really saying something. Check out their website to see what activities they have and don’t worry if it’s raining (like it was on the day we went) they still are there in uniform!

This is well worth the hour drive South, what a great day-​trip from Kansas City!
We packed a picnic and spent the better part of afternoon exploring the grounds and buildings. Everything is very well maintained right down to the gardens behind the houses. My husband wanted to bring our dog for an outing and we were glad to discover that pets are welcome (other than in the buildings of course).
Loved the video which gave a thorough overview of the Fort’s history, I recommend doing that first. You’ll see cannons, an ambulance and covered wagon, a hospital, a bake house, officers quarters, barracks, mess halls, uniforms, weapons, gardens… it’s a great snapshot of life in the 1840s. You can even do a cell phone tour!
I highly recommend visiting!
The downtown area is adjacent to the Fort and could use some revamping but it’s still nice to walk and explore a little.

Built in 1842 the Fort helped bring supplies for Western expansion and saw action as a military post during the Civil War. I visited because I was driving through Kansas and according to the National Park Passport book there was a stamp to be had. It turned out to be a pleasant visit and one that gave me some good photo ops.
The grounds are well maintained and visitors can tour several buildings throughout the site. I enjoyed the prairie grass behind the site, which I thought really displayed the feel of the area and what the old prairies would have been during those times. A barn/​stable on the grounds had a carriage and a a canon, which I was able to put to use in my photos as well. I didn’t know what to expect and had no prior knowledge of the site, but it is a good stop along the road and an opportunity to connect to American history.