You are invited to join the staff and volunteers of Fort Larned NHS on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 18, from 2:30 to 5 as we bring the history of the Santa Fe Trail alive through a variety of special living history programs.
Living history interpreters will be on post to recreate the life of an 1860s Frontier Army post. We invite you to explore the buildings and experience life in these historic structures, learn about weapons of the 1860s, visit and talk with the hard-working blacksmith, soldiers and ladies, or explore the post prison with its underground well. No matter which activity you choose to do, it will be an experience you won’t want to miss.
Along with these programs, the focus of the afternoon will be on mail wagons of the Santa Fe Trail. Reproduction civilian and military wagons will be on display, including an 1860s type mud coach like the ones used at Fort Larned to transport mails. Whether you choose to explore the buildings and view the wagons or visit with the soldiers going about the duties of the post, you will discover a full and fun afternoon at Fort Larned.
Fort Larned is six miles west of Larned on Kansas 156. The park is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST throughout the year. Admission is free. Fort Larned is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For more information, visit the FLNHS website http://www.nps.gov/fols, call 620-285-6911, email to fols_superintendent@nps.gov or write to Fort Larned National Historic Site, 1767 KS Hwy 156, Larned, KS 67550. Also, email to fols_superintendent@nps.gov. For information on area tourism partners, lodging, dining and community services please go to www.larnedks.org or call (620) 285-6916.
Fort personnel also remind you that the annual Fort Larned Candlelight Tour will be coming up next month on Saturday, Oct. 9. This year’s tour theme will be "Remembering the Forgotten," commemorating people who died at the fort. The scenes will cover a variety of ways people met their demise, from dramatic fights to unfortunate accidents. The tours will start at 7:30 p.m. with the last one leaving the visitor center at 10:15 p.m. The tours are free but you must call the park visitor center at 620-285-6911 to make a reservation. Reservations will open on Monday, Sept. 27.
