We have never been to Fort Scott and decided to do a day trip to see the old Fort, the town and possibly stop somewhere there for lunch. Now we understand the phrase: “We spend a month in Ft. Scott one day!” The old Fort is well maintained; the self tour was interesting and so is the history of the Fort. However, other than the Fort there is very little worth seeing and frankly one can find better dining options in a shopping mall. Needless to say, we skipped lunch. The Fort is interesting if you happen to be in the area, but we have no interest in returning to Ft. Scott and would not recommend it to any friends.
This is one of the most wonderfully kept forts I have ever been to. It seems each time I go there is some function going on where they have people dressed in period clothes, which makes it all the more better. In the winter they do a candle lit tour which looks amazing. The history is great here and you get to really experience it. Stop in and enjoy this free jewel in our local history!
My review might be slightly skewed because it was hot the day we visited. It would have been more pleasant had there been more drinking fountains available. We loved the set up and the descriptions they had though. It was very easy to follow the entire path and we learned a lot. My kids even enjoyed it.The guest shop is air conditioned ... which was very nice!
We visit the Fort at least once a year. We have done several self-guided tours, small group tours and personal tours. It is great every time. The building are gorgeous. The grounds are beautiful. The history is fantastic. The staff is well-versed in the town and Fort history. They are friendly and great with questions and small children. Their special events are something to mark on the calendar. We will continue to go back.
Fort Scott National Historic Site, located approximately 80 miles south of Olathe, Kansas, is a Historical gem. This fort was commissioned three times. Once as a boundary between settlement and Native American lands, once during the Civil War and once during railroad expansion. It housed the Dragoons (the precursor to the Calvary). The fort is complete with original and recreated buildings and is a must see for history buffs and National Park enthusiasts. The town of Fort Scott is historical in its own right as a military and railroad town. Fort Scott has a charming downtown, complete with antique stores, hotels and restaurants, all within walking distance of the Historic Site. It's a perfect day trip from Kansas City.
The Park Ranger that gave us a tour was fantastic. We were 3 old Navy buddies having a little reunion, and this was one of the highlights of our visit to the area. Very worthwhile time spent.
The fort was very well preserved! The tour is really nice and let's you get up close and personal with history! A must if your close to Fort Scott!
If you appreciate Civil War history and the stories surrounding it, you will love this Fort. There are scheduled activities at the fort as well as self-guided tours. If you plan 2 or so hours, you can see most of the sites of the fort.
Enjoyed this experience! Self tour was well layed out, signs and cell phone audio tour available. Thanks to our National Historic Staff for keeping this piece of history well maintained!
This site is large and spread out, and most of the buildings have an upstairs and downstairs. Each exhibit was insightful and interesting, and the staff are wonderful. We spent about 4 hours there.