Visiting Ft. Scott, Kansas

Fort Scott, Kansas is a great town to visit-- for history lovers, antique collectors and those who love beautiful historic homes.

My family and I took a day to explore the town of Ft. Scott a short time ago.  We happen to visit during the 2009 Secret Gardens of Bourbon County.  We had a full day planned so we only stopped at one of the homes on the tour-- The Scott Garden at Linderhof.  We toured the Scott's English herb garden and  the hostess offered us a hour of her 1920's home. True beauty both inside and outside her home.

One of the beautiful landmarks in the town is the Lyons Twin Mansions.  The homes were built in 1876.  They consist of 3 acres of gardens. The mansions are  family owned and operated bed and breakfasts (and spa).  Another bed and breakfast beauty is the Levine House.  It was built in 1884 and renovated in 2006. 

The largest portion of our trip to Ft. Scott, Kansas was to tour the Fort.  The fort during the Civil War was the home to the Dragoon soldiers.  Guests to the fort can tour the upstairs hospital, horse stable, carriage house and barracks, jail,  and many other buildings on the grounds.  It was interesting to learn about life at Ft. Scott for the  Dragoon soldiers.  The day we visited it was hovering around 100 degrees.  My first thought was "how did these soldier tolerate this kind of heat in their uniforms?".

Right next to the Fort is the historic downtown.  Ft. Scott has a wonderful supply of tearooms, gift shops and antique stores.  We spent some time hiding from the heat in The Iron Star. They sell antiques and home decor and were in the process of developing a tea room for guests.  

If you love the history of the Civil War, Ft. Scott, Kansas is a great place to visit. I do recommend going on a much cooler day (100 degrees was a bit uncomfortable).  If beautiful historic homes or antiquing is something you enjoy-- Ft. Scott is a great place for that as well.