Rich's Birthday Day Trip

Tuesday of last week, we asked our friends, Ellen and LeeRoy, to join us on a day trip to celebrate Rich's birthday. Ellen and LeeRoy are neighbors, we are in our church small group, Ellen and I are in Bible study and Mom2Mom, and we also go to Weight Watchers. I must say Ellen does more weighing, I do more watching! :(

Even though Rich's birthday was on Wednesday, we chose Tuesday because it was SUPPOSED to be the coolest day of the week at 97. Huh! It ended up hitting 104 degrees! So much for COOL!



Our first stop was Fort Larned, about an hour's drive west, and then north, of Newton.

This fort, called "Guardian of the Santa Fe Trail", was established in 1859 for protection and escort duty along the Santa Fe Trail, principally guarding trail mail and commerce. It was a key post in the Indian wars from 1859-1869. It closed after the Civil War and after the surge of the railroad across the plains. In 1964 it became a national historic site and is a unit of the National Park System.


It was established on the bank of the Pawnee River about five miles from its junction with the Arkansas River, which in these parts is pronounced Ar-kansas. Go figure!




It has nine restored original buildings and one reconstruction made of wood and sandstone.


Officers' Quarters.


Blockhouse - reconstructed. Built to strengthen the fort's defenses, it originally contained a powder magazine, two levels of rifle slits, an underground passageway, and a well. When not needed for defense, it was converted in 1867 into a guardhouse. There are no walls around this fort because there were no trees here when it was built. It was thought the river would provide adequate protection.


Rich and LeeRoy are in the barracks listening as a guide describes the finer points of loading a rifle.


These are double bed bunk beds which slept TWO MEN on each bunk. The barracks could hold up to 100 men at one time! That's a lot of testosterone in one little place!


Barracks Kitchen


Fort fire department. Grab a bucket and run!


Next stop was Fort Hays.


Originally known as Fort Fletcher, it was an important U.S. Army post that was active from 1865-1889. Troops stationed here were to protect the stage and freight wagons of the Butterfield Overland Despatch traveling along the Smoky Hill Trail to Denver. Like Fort Larned, it also confronted Indian attacks. It closed in 1866 as Fort Fletcher and re-opened as Ft. Hays, hopefully near the Union Pacific Railway which was under construction. It was hoped the fort could be used as a supply depot for other forts in the area and so it needed to be near the railroad line,but alas it became apparent that the railroad would pass about five miles north of the post. In 1867 a spring flood wiped out the fort and in a couple of weeks the new Fort Hays near the railroad right-of-way was occupied. So the goal of a large supply depot to service forts to the south and west was realized. At its peak, nearly 600 troops were located at Fort Hays, with such famous figures as Wild Bill Hickok, General Philip Sheridan and Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer among them. The fort was abandonded in 1889.

Today four original building survive: the blockhouse and two offiers' quarters.


Dining room of the Junior Officers' Quarters, set up for entertaining.


Ellen and LeeRoy on the veranda of the Junior Officers' Quarters.


Next stop...St. Fidelis Catholic Church, "The Cathedral of the Plains", one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas!