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WHAT IS IT?A Santa Fe Trail outpost built in 1859 for the purpose of protecting the lucrative trade route from hostile Indians.
BEAUTY (4/10)
Fort Larned NHS stands as it has for nearly 150 years in the middle of the expansive Kansas prairie, nothing in sight for miles. You can easily imagine the remote desolation of those soldiers stationed here. The grey stone buildings are all originals, one of the few 19th Century Forts that stand as they once did. Graffiti signatures are carved into much of the building’s stone. Some of the names date prior to 1900.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (4/10)
The original buildings and their carefully reconstructed interiors definitely evoke the military life along the Sante Fe Trail.
CROWDS (6/10)
There were a few other interested tourists wandering around. They had no effect on our time at the Fort.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (1/5)Fort Larned NHS is not a place you are going to happen upon. The Site is located in the west-central part of the state along Kansas Route 156, six miles west of U.S. Route 56. The Site is 83 miles northeast of Dodge City, 54 miles south of Hays or 114 miles west of Hutchinson. If none of these Kansas town landmarks helps your sense of direction, then you realize the Fort’s remote nature.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (5/5)
What the bookstore lacked in souvenirs, it made up for in its book selection. Nicely arranged by topic, shelves of books explored the roles of women, African-Americans and Indians in the west; invited browsers to explore other nearby National Parks and other points on the Santa Fe Trail and offered glimpses of some of the more famous persons from the trading days of the fort, such as Kit Carson and John C. Fremont. There was a wide selection of children’s books as well as glossy photo coffee table tomes.
COSTS (3/5)
Admission into the Site is $3 per person or $5 per family. Fort Larned NHS is free with the National Parks Pass.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (4/5)
We wish that there had been either a Ranger led Tour or a Ranger wandering around the Fort’s buildings. However, we had such a good experience with the Rangers at the Museum that this rating is a 4. see below There are living history exhibits at the Fort on weekends which we can confidently assume are well done and informative. We guess that there just are not enough people traveling to western Kansas during the week to warrant extra staff. Living History during the week still would have been nice.
TOURS/CLASSES (6/10)
The exhibits at the Fort Larned NHS Museum are good if not dated. The film is an old narrated cartoon slide show that we enjoyed. The film covered the Fort’s Santa Fe Trail history, its time as an Indian Bureau Agency, its relation to Indian treaties and its role in the Sand Creek and Washita Massacres. The film and the museum sparked our memories of middle school history lessons and generated many questions that we soon threw at the on-Site Ranger. She was a whirlwind of information. With every thorough answer came a book recommendation or advice on what to look for in the Fort’s buildings. She was superb.
The Park Service’s has clearly placed its emphasis on the restoration and upkeep of the Fort Larned buildings. Fort Larned looks brand new even though the majority of its buildings are originals. The Park Brochure does a fine job at briefly explaining the role of each building. After wandering in and out of every room, we still had many questions. There are few explanatory panels. It would have been nice if there had been guided tours of the Fort, especially given the high skill level of the Rangers we encountered.
We were armed with questions when we returned to the Museum where a different Ranger greeted us. He was equally as knowledgeable and friendly. We were intrigued by the sky blue paint that decorated the Fort’s doorways, windowsills, borders and even some of its walls. We asked, “Did you see that color in paintings or was it an educated guess by the restorer.” “Come with me,” he responded. We were confused but followed him past the Rangers’ lockers and into their break room. On an exposed part of the wall and behind protective glass was the same color blue. The color had been tested and dated to the early days of the Fort. “That’s how we know,” he smiled. Rangers like the ones we encountered at Fort Larned NHS (and many other Park sites) are national educational treasures.
FUN (4/10)We had quiet fun meandering through the buildings and talking to the Rangers. Living History exhibits would have made the trip much more enjoyable.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (4/10)
Sure, Fort Larned NHS is a nice enough place. If you are a longtime Gunsmoke fan, this means you, Dad, and just happen to be driving to Dodge City along U.S. 56, why not stop in and see an authentic portion of the Old West. Just don’t make the Site a primary vacation destination.
TOTAL 41/80
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