North-east of Dodge City is Fort Larned, an important military post on the Santa Fe Trail. Here William T. Sherman, Philip Sheridan, George A. Custer, Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickock guarded the railroad to the west. Nine of the original buildings are still preserved.
Larned (pop. 4,200) is the county seat of Pawnee County, Kansas.
Fort Larned was established in 1859 near the midpoint of the Santa Fe Trail to protect mail coaches and freight caravans. Today, as a unit of the National Park Service, it is the best preserved Indian Wars military post on the Santa Fe Trail.
Walkway and grounds at Fort Larned National Historic Site.
Address: Fort Larned National Historic Site, 1767 Kansas Highway 156, Larned, KS 67550, United States
Phone: 1 (620) 285-6911, Fax: 1 (620) 285-3571
Hours:
8:30am-4:30pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Nicodemus National Historic Site commemorates an all-Black town that was founded by African Americans following the Civil War. It is a symbol of the pioneer spirit of the African Americans who set out on their own to seek freedom.
The National Park Service has a temporary Visitor Center located in the Nicodemus Township Hall.
Address: Nicodemus National Historic Site, 304 Washington Avenue, Bogue, KS 67625-3015, United States
Phone: 1 (785) 839-4233, Fax: 1 (785) 839-4325
Hours:
9am-4:30pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum and Library west of Larned tells the story of the area that was once known as the Santa Fe Trail. An outdoor museum, with sod and dugout houses and a one-room schoolhouse, offers living history programs.
Address: Santa Fe Trail Center, RR 3, Box 137, Larned, KS 67550-9355, United States
Phone: 1 (620) 285-2054, Fax: 1 (620) 285-7491
Hours:
May 30 to September 6: 9am-5pm
September 7 to May 29: 9am-5pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
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Fort Larned National Historic Site, Larned
