Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott National Historic Site is a historical area under the control of the United States National Park Service in Fort Scott Kansas. Named after General Winfield Scott, who achieved renown during the Mexican–American War, during the middle of the 19th century the fort served as a military base for US Army action in what was the edge of settlement in 1850. For the next quarter century, it was used as a supply base and to provide security in turbulent areas during the opening of the West to settlement, a period which included Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War. The current national historic site protects 20 historic structures, a parade ground, and five acres of restored tallgrass prairie, inside the city of Fort Scott.
With the Act of August 31, 1965, the National Park Service gave the city government of Fort Scott, Kansas the necessary funds and technical knowledge to restore the fort. On October 19, 1978, Fort Scott became a National Historic Site under the supervision of the National Park Service, encompassing 17 acres. Surviving structures include four officers’ barracks, one dragoon’s barracks, two infantry barracks, a hospital, guardhouse, dragoon stables, ordnance and post headquarters, quartermaster stables, bake shop, flagpole, and magazine. Another feature of the park is 5 acres of tallgrass prairie restored as part of an ecology-restoration project.
What to Photograph:
The historic structures of the fort, and the surrounding tall grass prairie.
Where it is:
Fort Scott National Historic Site is located in downtown Fort Scott, Kansas. U.S. Highways 69 and 54 intersect here. Fort Scott is about 90 miles south of Kansas City and 60 miles northwest of Joplin, Missouri. It is 4 miles from the Kansas-Missouri border.
Signs directing visitors to Fort Scott are posted on highway 69 for visitors coming from the north and the south and on highway 54 for visitors coming from the east and the west. Highway 69 between Fort Scott and Kansas City is a four lane highway,
The entrance to the site is one block west of the intersection of Highway 69 and Highway 54 east. (Highway 54 west splits off from Highway 69 about 1/2 mile north of town.)
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Cost:
Entrance to Fort Scott NHS is free of charge. It is open 362 days a year (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Hours:
Today the fort is open throughout the year, save for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
All Park – Fort Scott National Historic Site
Visitors may walk the grounds from sunrise to sunset except during periods of snow, ice or other inclement weather conditions that make the grounds unsafe
Standard Hours
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Monday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The visitor center is open seven days a week. Summer hours are 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. April 1 through October 31. Winter hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November 1 through March 31.
Facilities:
The visitor center includes a park store, restrooms and orientation desk.
The site is located in downtown Fort Scott Kansas.
Links:
Fort Scott National Historic Site NPS
NPS Fort Scott Mobile App
Location Contact Information:
Physical Address
Fort Scott NHS
Old Fort Blvd.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
By Mail
P.O. Box 918
Fort Scott, KS 66701-0918
By Phone
Visitor Information
620-223-0310
By Fax
620-223-0188
Fort Scott National Historic Site Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Kansas:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.
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