Fort Larned National Historic Site Review

A beautiful museum where all the heritage and history of the American people is preserved.

Fantastic experience with family. The trail was fun to walk and learn about the site.

Well worth the visit of you are passing by. The grounds and the buildings are incredibly well kept. Just wandering from building to building will easily take a couple of hours.

Make sure you visit the visitor centre first and watch the introductory movie for a better idea of the history of not only the Fort but the Santa Fe Trail as well.

The kids and myself learnt quite a lot and all told spent around 3 hours here.

Kids will especially enjoy the junior ranger program.

Allow 2 to 3 hours but if you are in a rush you could experience most of the Fort in an hour.

Well worth the visit. A true landmark. Buildings furnished with original items, tools, and equipment. Volunteers extremely helpful and courteous. Very dog friendly.

Great surprise. Well kept up and nice. Amazing artifacts and a great insight to a fort on the trail. Amazing that many things have remained over time.

Wow...really impressed. The ranger was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Want to go back and learn more and spend more time

Off-the-beaten path, but well worth the detour. The National Park staff at Larned, including a young man in military uniform, are delightful and informative. The location on the Santa Fe Trail was essential to commerce and travel. The barracks and military-stores are very interesting and will interest younger folks, too. The Park visitor center and gift shop was closed because of the pandemic, but they do offer take-away stamps for your passport collection! (They hope to open their center soon.)

This place is great for families and anyone else who likes history. You can see the officers quarters, barracks, hospital, bread bakery, leather working, blacksmith, and other buildings. This place is a fun place for anyone wanting to study history, or just have fun.

Really gave you a good feeling for how things were for soldiers and their families in the old west. Very nicely maintained and really nice displays. Rangers were very helpful and knowledgeable well worth a visit!

There were no tours going on at the time we were there and the original visitors center as being redone. It was cool to see all the stuff but not to know anything of the story of the place, kind of felt like I wasted my time. The movie at the makeshift visitors center helped a little.

Haunted. Did not enjoy that aspect, at all. Most affected in the officers quarters, the old jail in the back right corner, the farthest side if the graveyard, and the trail to take to exit off the fort grounds and head back to the car.
Yes I know I sound insane.

They've done a good job keeping the grounds and displays. Even have a blacksmith on site.

Beautifully restored historical fort. Authentic and impressive. Furnished with great period pieces and fort artifacts.

Amazing facility, free entrance, open access, historic significance.

Well worth the side trip. Plan on 2 to 4 hours to see everything. Great displays, friendly and very informative site.

I love History and my Son likes visiting National Parks. This was a well maintain Fort. Loved the Grounds and and info

The buildings are in great shape except for the (now-historic) graffiti. The rooms are loaded with period artifacts. Don't miss the film & displays in the visitor center. Great example of a fort in the Wild West days. There was one costumed gent while we were there on a 102-degree day. The rangers were helpful & enthusiastic.

The parking lot felt like it was a long way from the main site - close to a half mile maybe & another quarter mile past that to the visitor center. Plan on walking 1-1/2 to 2 miles total, almost all of it outside in Kansas's oft-inclement weather.

There is a vehicle path around the outside of the fort that could drop off a mobility-challenged individual right next to the visitor center, but it's "for authorized use only." If this is you, maybe call ahead, explain your situation, & see if the rangers would let you do that. I don't know what they'd tell you, but as the old saying goes, "If you don't ask, the answer is always 'no.'"

Enjoyed the visit to the Fort with family. My hats off to the Rangers aswell. Thanks, Gentleman for making our visit a good one.

Outstanding 1860's-1870's Santa Fe Trail army post with original sandstone buildings. Located in west central Kansas, this national park historic site is worth a 1-2 hour visit.

Loved It! The guy in the barracks building was very knowledgeable. The blacksmith was so nice. Truly enjoyed our visit.

Amazing hidden gem in Kansas. Approaching from the road doesn't look like much. Also there are some fun planned events throughout the year!

This place is awesome! Fort was well stocked with period items and the entire fort was well maintained. This place is a must see.

Wonderfully preserved and restored original structures. There are also volunteers dressed in time appropriate dress who show you through different parts of the fort. It was fascinating to see how fort would have been. They also had a blacksmith actually operating a forge and demonstrate how a chain would be made. Highly recommend!

They have attempted to keep it as it was in 1867. The volunteers were great explaining difficulties in building time period furniture with tools and humidity of area. The commander area was not opened.

How fun! Will definitely be going back. A tour of the museum, the soldier in the barracks, and the blacksmith making takeaways. A great place to spend a few hours learning.

Great place. Spent a couple of hours and had fun with the kids. Really enjoyed the history.

They do a great job of preserving our military history, really bring the past to life.

An amazingly preserved Fort with a lot of history. Since it's away from town, you can easily feel like you've gone back to the 1860s. Well worth the stop.

Very neat place. I enjoyed all the history here. Can't wait to come back for another visit.

Well preserved fort from the frontier days on the Santa Fe Trail. Haven't been to a bad National Park Service site and this place is no exception. Quite similar to Fort Scott and Fort Laramie.

beautiful, a step back in time. didn't get to see all of it due to my time restrictions, but i will without a doubt be back. they offer lots to look at including lots of informative signs and have a decent sized hiking trail. if your passing through make sure to stop by (:

This is a high quality unit of the NPS, and I think it is the staff that makes all the difference. I had nice conversations with the blacksmith, the carpenter, and a couple gardeners - all fascinating. The fort is well maintained and open enough to the public to be really interesting. Plus the blacksmiths like their work and are always willing to stoke up the coals for interested children.

Fort Larned is one of the best historic forts I've visited. The blacksmith shop is entirely original and Pete was great showing us techniques used to repair items which would have been ordered by the quartermaster. Custer passed through for a few days and the presentation of the barracks was fantastic. Definitely worth a stop to see one of the great protection sites on the Sante Fe Trail.

We were in the area and decided to visit the Fort. What a historical treat. It is beautifully maintained inside and out. Each building includes recreated materials from that era. As you enter the buildings, it is like the soldiers are out and you've just happened to visit while they are gone. It is a wonderful way to really get a feel for the mid 1800's. The word that came to mind while visiting was pristine - it is beautiful to look at and experience. If you are a history buff and are in the area, this is a wonderful stop. There are volunteers around who can give you the local history which certainly adds to the visit. Definitely recommend it if you are in the area. And, when you leave, head to Pawnee Rock to get the rest of the story.

Great place to take a step back.

Be prepared to walk. Ground is level but builds are not handicap accessible.

There are several displays and the staff is very good at explaining the displays.

Very friendly and helpful.

Very good experience. Always fun to visit! Highly recommend.

We make the 1.5 hour drive to this Fort about every other year. This year we attended the lantern tour held in October. It was outstanding. The fort was presented like it would have been in the 1880's with skits and period costumes. We have also attended the memorial day event and that is also one not to be missed.

You learn history of an old Fort in the beginning of movement to what would become the western part of the United States

The rangers here where incredible and kind. Definitely a lovely place to stop and take in history

Stepping back in time and trying to visualize living at this site, on the wind swept plains of Kansas, left a deep impression on me.

The employees are friendly, informative, and generous with their time.

We happened by Fort Larned and were overjoyed we stopped! The staff were eager to share their knowledge and we wish we d had more than a couple of hours to explore. A definite must see!

Thank you to everyone who made our experience enjoyable when we showed up at the end of the day

A terrific historical stop in the middle of Kansas by our NPS. Well preserved, great stories and bringing history back to life. The staff was super friendly and helpful. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to tour the grounds!

Awesome Christmas on the trail, grandkids loved it.

Fantastic experience. Learned so much about the western frontier.

If it s traveling the Santa Fe trail or just exploring beautiful Kansas, Fort Larned is a must. The history, the historical characters and the people that work here a amazing, knowledgeable, and kind. I may also mention we took our pooch and they happen to be pet friendly!

This fort is a wonderful piece of history to visit. All of the buildings are restored beautifully and you can see what life was like for soldiers stationed here. During our visit the museum was being disassembled so we did not get to visit it, but the visitor's center was clean with very nice bathrooms. All of the park rangers were helpful and knowledgeable. Our favorite part was the blacksmith's shop. The blacksmith patiently explained what he was doing to my children and made them a chain link.

It s a interesting place on the Santa Fe Trail, you can see buildings, tools, equipments, and weapons used by the army before. Also the staffs there are very kind and helpful.

Beautiful facilities. I loved walking through and getting the actual feel of the times back then. All staff were wonderfully pleasant, helpful and friendly.

The best-preserved frontier military post I've seen. Every building is set up as if the cavalry just rode out for a patrol and will be back any moment.

Budget a couple of hours at least, and make sure you hit all the buildings (and the cemetery). It's a huge eye-opener to the material conditions American frontier soldiers lived with. 10/10 would visit again.

Dropped in by accident. This is a national gem. Enormously friendly guides and great information. Also, once a year they hold a candlelight ceremony. Must book ahead.

So glad we took the time to stop! Fort Larned has been beautifully restored and preserved. The visitor center staff was very friendly and helpful, and we loved the blacksmith demonstration! I really enjoyed getting to learn (and see!) more about the history of the area. Definitely worth visiting!

What a great place to learn some military history. The exhibits are all in the actual buildings and barracks and you can really feel yourself in the era as you walk through it. Great staff and wheelchair provided (which I thought was very thoughtful to older guests as it is quite a bit of walking).Got a great pic of my son posing with the prison shackles. Lots of fun!

Last visit was May of 2018. Staff is phantastic. Great way to spend half a day or longer. Their special events are educational and entertaining.

Stopped there while traveling through the area back in 2003. What an amazing place. It felt as though the soldiers stationed there had just left on patrol. If you have any interest in the history of the US Calvary be sure to stop by for a visit. Plan on an hour or two to absorb the environment that has been recreated here. Look closely and you may find a brick inscribed 'Custer was here'. Many soldiers stationed at Fort Larned carved their names or initials in the original limestone bricks from which the buildings are constructed.

Very interesting. Well kept. Would have been nicer if visitors center could have been open.

They have done a great restoration.vyou would get more out of a reenactment day. Blacksmith was great to talk to.

Historic frontier fort. Nice stop to learn about history along the Santa Fe trail.

Restored Indian fort. The guide was great. I learned a lot of things even though I spent a lot of time there when it was a private ranch.

For those willing to go off the beaten path, this is an excellent stop. The fort was a stopping place on the old Santa Fe trail.

Awesome historical fort. Guides/reinactors were so informative. Well worth doing!!!

We stumbled upon this while driving through the area and were pleasantly surprised. The area itself is a great place to walk around on a nice day. Plus, the historic site is thoughtfully reconstructed and immerses you in military life along the Santa Fe Trail. During our visit, the climate controlled buildings were closed (e.g., the visitors center); however, most of the buildings and grounds were still open to explore and there are plenty of online and printed guides to inform your visit. This place is well worth a visit! (And since it is completely free to enter, it is a great value).

The saga of the Santa Fe Trail and the pioneers that traveled it could not be told without the story of the soldiers that protected the trail from the Native Americans that were justifiably angry about the travelers passing through their lands. Kansas was home to a string of forts and Fort Larnard is the best example of frontier life. A stop at this National Monument will take you back to exactly what life was like. Travelers should add this to their agenda while in Western Kansas.

Historically preserved 1860's sandstone military fort. Not a huge park, so an easy visit. All the buildings inside look like the 1860's. Working blacksmith! Can't wait for the new museum to be done in April. Never seen anything like this!

Great little place for a picnic! It's right off the road. Has toilets too! I did not go back and see the fort. Sorry

Best time to visit is early morning or late evening. How day time is not as enjoyable. Pete the smitty is there along with Range George and Mike.

Great place as all the buildings are original. And insides have been era approximately decorated.

Good history.

Great staff.

Very well maintained, friendly staff in period dress. Informative & interesting. Great for kids

It was brutally hot when we visited and I felt bad for the park personnel who were dressed in full costume. The gal at the main visitor center gave us a quick background of the facility and included my kids in assembling some games that kids of that era would have enjoyed. We combed through all of the displays trying to get a sense of what life was like during those days. I would say the highlight of the visit for my family was the visit to the blacksmith shop. He took the time to communicate directly with my kids, even making a special hook for my son out of steel. The blacksmith had to heat up the metal, twist it, form it, and punch a hole in it just like those early settlers did back then. My son can't wait to bring it to school for show and tell!

All the cool photos are on my camera, but this location deserves to be noted! Even though I am Native American, this is a great place to see what can be achieved without technology. The buildings are amazing, although life must have been difficult. What the soldiers did to natives was reprehensible, knowing what they believed is a step toward understanding and possible forgiveness...someday

I only stopped in at the rest stop area. Bathroom was clean everything went well.

Once a year is an event treasured by locals, and hard to get reservations for almost everyone else. The Candle Light Tour is topically accurate and informative. Truly Candlelight only and only one night in October. Try and get reservations if you can. You are able to get closer to the exhibit rooms than during normal visits. Was worth the five hour one way trip.

This is a wonderful place. The buildings are original...sandstone and people have carved their names in the stone for over a hundred years....dont do that thought. It was interesting to read them. The rangers are super nice. The museum and movie quite good. A must see if you live old military outposts. I do

Really like this Fort! Upkeep was very good and the history here unreal! Loved it very much and I will be back!
Thank you