LARNED — In addition to its in-person programming and living history presentations, Fort Larned National Historic Site has been working to increase its digital presence.
Virtual tours, online activities for Junior Rangers, and educational programs covering historic topics on the Fort’s website are now joined by a monthly podcast produced at the Fort.
Ranger Ben Long announced that the premiere podcast entitled, “Footsteps, the Fort Larned National Historic Site Podcast,” dropped Saturday, Sept. 2.
“‘Footsteps’ is a podcast based entirely around Fort Larned that includes upcoming news and events,” said Long, who is in his fourth year with the Pawnee County historic venue. Long noted that his relatively brief experience at the Fort allows him to connect with those who are just learning about the Fort and its offerings.
“I haven’t been here as long as some of the others have, so I’m still learning,” he said. “That gives me an in with some visitors’ questions.”
The podcasts are planned to air on the first Saturday of the month. Saturday’s debut episode kicked of the first season, which will be taking a look at Fort Larned’s past, present and future, Long said. Seven episodes are planned for the first season.
The format features Long as host, with an intern as assistant interviewer, and a special guest. Saturday’s program featured local student Carter Atteberry, who is interning at the Fort, interviewing Chief Ranger George Elmore.
Counting his seasonal experience with the National Park Service, Elmore has spent 50 years at Fort Larned. “I was hired basically right off the street back in 1973 as a seasonal employee,” Elmore noted. “I was made full time in 1976 and have been here ever since.”
The podcast is available on the Fort’s website and plans are to post programs with Apple podcasts “once the bugs are all worked out,” Long said. The programs are produced at the Fort with equipment made available through grant funding.
Fort Larned has birthday
Last Thursday, Fort Larned celebrated its 59th birthday as a National Historic Site. It was officially designated a national historic site on Aug. 31, 1964.
Featuring a ring of natural stone buildings around a grass quadrangle, the Fort presents all aspects of army life at a military outpost in Kansas during its active years in the 1860s-’70s. The sandstone buildings sheltered troops who were known as the Guardians of the Santa Fe Trail.
Fort Larned is located 6 miles west of Larned on K-156 in Pawnee County. To contact the Fort Visitor Center, the phone number is 620-285-6911; fax is 620-285-3571 and by email is fols_internet@nps.gov.
