Fort Larned, Kansas – Guarding the Santa Fe Trail
Nestled in the heart of the Kansas prairie, approximately six miles west of the present-day town of Larned, lies a preserved testament to a pivotal era in American history: Fort Larned National Historic Site. This site safeguards the well-preserved military post established in 1859, a strategic outpost that played a crucial role in protecting the vital Santa Fe Trail. More than just a collection of buildings, Fort Larned, Kansas, offers a tangible connection to the challenges and triumphs of westward expansion, the complexities of interactions with Native American tribes, and the daily lives of soldiers stationed on the frontier.
In October 1859, Captain George H. Stewart, commanding Company K of the First United States Cavalry, received orders to establish a mail escort station along the Santa Fe Trail. The mission was clear: provide security and ensure the reliable flow of communication and commerce along this critical artery of the American West. After careful consideration, Captain Stewart selected a site on the south bank of the Pawnee Fork, a location roughly eight miles from the river’s mouth. This strategic position offered access to water and a defensible location within the heart of the Indian hunting grounds. The initial encampment, a rudimentary collection of sod structures, was simply referred to as "Camp on Pawnee Fork."
The nascent outpost quickly evolved. On February 1, 1860, the camp received its first official designation, becoming "Camp Alert." Just months later, on May 29, 1860, the post underwent a further transformation, relocating approximately 2.5 miles westward and receiving its permanent name: Fort Larned, Kansas. This renaming honored Colonel B.F. Larned, the then-current paymaster-general of the United States Army, a figure of considerable importance in ensuring the financial stability of the military operations in the West.
Initially, the reservation encompassed a four-mile square tract of land. However, its true significance lay not in its size, but in its purpose. Fort Larned, Kansas, served dual objectives: to protect the burgeoning traffic along the Santa Fe Trail and to act as a base of operations for military campaigns against Native American tribes, whose traditional lands were increasingly encroached upon by westward-moving settlers.
The year 1861 marked a significant expansion of Fort Larned’s responsibilities. It became the Indian Agency for the administration of the Southern Plains Indians, operating under the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as mandated by the terms of the Fort Wise Treaty of 1861. This treaty, intended to establish peaceful relations, also assigned the fort a crucial role in the distribution of annuities – goods and provisions promised to the tribes in exchange for land cessions and agreements to maintain peace. Fort Larned, Kansas, became a centralized hub for these distributions, a place where representatives of various tribes would gather to receive what they were owed.
Despite its strategic importance, Fort Larned’s early years were marked by vulnerability. Until 1862, the post was garrisoned by only a small contingent of troops, an insufficient force to effectively deter attacks on wagon trains by the Kiowa, Apache, and Arapaho tribes. These tribes, increasingly frustrated by the loss of their hunting grounds and the disruption of their traditional way of life, frequently raided wagon trains traversing the Santa Fe Trail. However, the situation improved in 1862 when reinforcements arrived, comprised of Colorado and Kansas Volunteers. With these additional troops, Fort Larned, Kansas, was better equipped to provide a more robust defense along the Santa Fe Trail, increasing the safety of travelers and commerce.
Recognizing the need for more permanent and defensible structures, Fort Larned initiated a period of rebuilding in 1865, utilizing locally sourced adobe. However, this was only a temporary solution. In November 1867, the Department of Missouri issued orders for the construction of more durable buildings using sandstone blocks. This marked a significant upgrade in the fort’s infrastructure. By 1868, the post boasted a substantial collection of buildings, including officers’ quarters, barracks for the enlisted men, a hospital, a blockhouse for defense, and stables for the horses. These structures, built of sturdy sandstone, provided a more secure and comfortable environment for the soldiers stationed at Fort Larned.
The late 1860s saw Fort Larned reach its zenith. It became a key post during the Indian Wars, providing crucial military protection for federal land surveys, which were essential for mapping and opening up new territories for settlement. Furthermore, the fort emerged as a significant federal commissary, responsible for supplying the growing number of Indian agencies in the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) south of Kansas. Fort Larned also played a role in various treaty negotiations, including the Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867, an attempt to broker peace between the U.S. government and several Southern Plains tribes. During this period, Fort Larned, Kansas, was considered second in importance only to Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley, two of the most significant military installations in the region. The fort’s strategic importance drew many notable figures of the era, including frontiersmen Kit Carson and Buffalo Bill Cody, and General George Armstrong Custer, all of whom spent time at the post. From 1867 to 1869, the 10th U.S. Cavalry, an African-American regiment famously known as the Buffalo Soldiers, was stationed at Fort Larned, contributing to its rich and diverse history.
As the frontier gradually calmed, the need for Fort Larned diminished. In early 1870, frame additions were made to the junior officers’ quarters, and further improvements followed in 1872 with the completion of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad to the fort. However, by 1878, the landscape had drastically changed. The Native American tribes had been largely relocated to reservations, and communities like Larned, La Crosse, and Kinsley had flourished, serving the growing population of farmers and ranchers in the surrounding area. With the threat of conflict significantly reduced and the region more settled, the Army deactivated Fort Larned in June 1878 and officially abandoned it on July 19, 1878.
The story of Fort Larned did not end with its abandonment. In January 1880, Senator Plumb, from the Committee on Military Affairs, proposed a bill to sell the reservation to area settlers. Although this initial attempt failed, Congress later approved an act on August 4, 1882, directing the Secretary of War to relinquish the Fort Larned reservation to the Department of the Interior. The land was then opened to public domain, to be sold to actual settlers at an appraised price, with a limit of one quarter-section per purchaser.
For the next eighty years, the land and buildings of Fort Larned, Kansas, remained in private hands. Remarkably, the structures remained largely intact, a testament to the quality of their construction and the stewardship of the private owners. This preservation paved the way for a new chapter in the fort’s history. In August 1964, Fort Larned was designated a National Historic Site, becoming a unit of the National Park System.
Following its designation as a National Historic Site, Fort Larned underwent extensive restoration. One of the buildings was transformed into a museum and gift shop, providing visitors with an engaging introduction to the fort’s history and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, the oldest building, the unique hexagon-shaped blockhouse, had been torn down years prior. However, it was reconstructed in 1988, using some of the original stones.
Today, the Fort Larned National Historic Site showcases nine meticulously restored buildings, including officers’ quarters, barracks, a blacksmith shop, a commissary, and more. It stands as one of the best-preserved examples of Indian Wars-era forts in the United States. Many of the buildings are furnished with period-appropriate artifacts, offering visitors a glimpse into the daily lives of the soldiers and civilians who once inhabited the fort. The Visitor Center houses a museum, an introductory slide show, a library, restrooms, and a gift shop. Furthermore, a nature trail allows visitors to observe the wagon ruts left in the ground by the countless pioneers who traversed the Santa Fe Trail, a tangible reminder of the fort’s vital role in westward expansion.
Throughout the summer months, the National Historic Site offers a variety of engaging programs. Historians in period clothing staff the buildings, providing demonstrations of daily life, military drills, and other activities that bring the past to life. These immersive experiences provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs of life on the frontier.
Fort Larned, Kansas, is located six miles west of Larned, Kansas, on Highway 156.
Contact Information:
Fort Larned National Historic Site
1767 Kansas Highway 156
Larned, Kansas 67550-9321
620-285-6911