Fort Scott National Historic Site

A field of sunflowers adds a splash of color to a view of the parade ground at Fort Scott.
Promises made and broken! Who deserves to be free? The fight for freedom! Soldiers fighting settlers! Each of these stories is a link in the chain of events that encircled Fort Scott from 1842-1873. All of the site's structures, its parade ground, and its tallgrass prairie bear witness to this era when the country was forged from a young republic into a united transcontinental nation.
Map showing location of park.
199 New Citizens standing and taking their oath on the grassy parade ground.
Fort Scott National Historic Site to Host Special Naturalization Ceremony on September 16
Media outlets and the general public are invited to Fort Scott National Historic Site on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, for a Special Naturalization Ceremony at the fort’s parade ground. Check-in for ceremony participants begins at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. The Honorable Holly L. Teeter, United States District Judge for the District of Kansas, is scheduled to preside.
Five grouped pictures of reenactors in period clothing.
Labors on the Frontier
Saturday through Monday, September 5-7, 2026, Fort Scott National Historic Site will take you on an exploration of the labors and leisure on an 1840s frontier post. Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., enjoy a variety of living history demonstrations as you explore the labors on the fort. Monday will be Artillery demonstrations at 9, 10, and 11 a.m.
A crew of volunteers dressed in 1840s white uniforms firing a 6lb field cannon.
Join Fort Scott NHS for the Sights and Sounds of American Independence
Celebrate American independence with the sounds of cannon fire and immersion in America’s history while honoring the men and women who have defended the United States through the growth of our nation. On Saturday, July 4th, we will fire artillery, lead Fort tours, and honor all those who have fought for our freedom.
Picture of a older and worn flag with wrinkles.
Official US Flag Disposal Ceremony
Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., Fort Scott National Historic Site, American Legion Post 25, and Fort Scott Fire Department will be hosting an official US Flag Disposal Ceremony. Bring your: United States, POW/MIA, State, and Service (U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard) flags to the fort between now and 3:30 p.m. Saturday and we will properly and respectfully dispose of them. Just as there’s etiquette for displaying Old Glory, there’s also etiquette for disposing of flags in a dignified manner.
Oklahoma Native American Fancy Dancers, dancing with park visitors
Native American Dance Presentation and Native Craft Workshop
Learn Native American stories and experience dance performances by the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers. Then create traditional corn husk dolls in Native Plains fashion. All activities are free and open to the public.
Picture of the post hospital with the parade ground and trees in the background.
Photo by NPS Photo
Wood frame structures with stairs next to a stone walkway. Structures reflect afternoon sunlight.
Photo by NPS Photo
Four soldiers on horseback in a line riding through prairie grass.
Photo by NPS Photo/Michelle Martin
Women dressed as laundresses with laundry buckets and scrub boards stand on a stone porch.
Photo by NPS Photo
Picture of rows of flags across the parade ground with trees in the background.
Photo by NPS Photo: B. Boyko
6 reenactors dressed in white are firing a 6lbs field cannon.
Photo by NPS Photo: C. Brenner