V3N4B

Fort Larned N.H.S.

Fort Larned National Historic Site is located in Central Kansas, about 100 hundred miles northwest of Wichita. Strikingly obvious upon approaching the site is the absence of walls. This fort never did have walls, and it's defenses faced toward the South, as the only direction which attacks could have occurred. The river was to the North.

Fort Larned is one of the most complete and intact forts we have ever visited. There are 9 original buildings constructed around a square parade ground. All the buildings are stone and mortar, and are intact with artifacts contained within. Not all the artifacts are original to the fort, but they are 'period accurate.'

The barracks were outfitted with bunks, uniforms, weapons and other items that would have shown what life in the 1880's military was like.

The Commissary was filled with food, (fake, of course) the Hospital was outfitted with medicinal instruments and items, and offices were equipped with desks and files. The only thing missing was the men of the day.

All in all, the fort was a very pleasant and informative visit. A site that piques the interest.

Tallgrass Prairie N.P.

Homestead N.M.

We visited two sites which were relatively alike in our travels this year. The first, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Strong City, Kansas near Emporia. The second, Homestead National Monument near Beatrice, Nebraska. Both sites depicted the early settlers and how they lived and struggled in the early 1800's.

While Tallgrass dealt with the land that was settled, Homestead dealt with the people who settled the land. We enjoyed the diversity with which both stories had been told.

Stephen Jones who settled Tallgrass, built a barn that was two feet short of the biggest barn in Kansas at the time. Daniel Freeman who settled on Homestead, was a doctor previously, and became the county coroner later.

We especially enjoyed the implements and tools which were used to work the land at Homestead. Tools which were demonstrated by way of video tape. The mangle for ironing clothes was especially amusing, and impossible to explain the complexities of the device here.

Fort Scott N.H.S.

Fort Scott National Historic Site is located on the Kansas/Missouri border in south Kansas in the town of the same name. The fort is in a restoration stage, but is still accessible. The buildings are reconstruction of previous buildings, but are still remarkable in the standard of living they provided in the 1860's. Officers were provided with six rooms of quarters, sometimes lavishly furnished.

Fort Scott is unique in that the first black regiments were trained here before the Civil War and fought on the side of the Union during that conflict. The Indians called them 'Buffalo Soldiers' because their hair was like buffalo hide.

The other thing that makes the fort unique is that the first dragoons trained in the military, were trained at this fort. The Dragoons were a precursor to the mounted cavalry. This is the first fort that we've been to that actually had stables incorporated into the fort. The stables have stalls for 80 horses.

The entire fort is relatively 'new' because of the reconstruction of the buildings, but the visit was none-the-less impressive for us.

Brown vs.Board of

Education N.H.S.

Topeka, Kansas is the location for this National Historic Site. Brown vs. Board of Education is a site dedicated to the Civil Rights trials of the 1950's dealing with the desegregation of the Public Schools. There were actually 5 cases that were lumped together in the final decision.

The site itself is supposed to feature one of the 4 all black schools from the 1950's. The school is presently under renovation and is expected to be completed in 2002. At that time, it will also encompass the Visitor's Center which is now located in the main Post Office in downtown Topeka. The Monroe School contained several State-of-the-Art features even though it was an all black school. Unlike the other court cases, Monroe did not have problems with the physical conditions of the school, but rather the inequities of the segregated system.

We had a very enjoyable conversation with one of the black rangers at the site. A very personable young lady in her 30's, who was obviously too young to have experienced the 50's.