Download - Fort Leavenworth Wayside Tour (self-guided)
Colonel Henry Leavenworth established Fort Leaven-worth on May 8, 1827. The mission of the post was to pro-tect the western frontier, to keep peace among the Native American tribes resettled into this area and to provide escort on the newly opened Santa Fe Trail. The post is a major his-torical site, and its residents are proud to share with visitors their part of our national military heritage. The fort is also an active military post, home to the Combined Arms Center. During its early history, Fort Leavenworth was an import-ant command and control headquarters for the war in the far west, as well as a major supply transshipment point for western sup-plies to the east. The forerunner of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Col-lege was established in 1881. Tens of thousands of U.S. and internation-al officers have attend-ed the Army’s senior tactical college to become “Leavenworth graduates.”
Location:Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is located northwest of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, 15 miles north of Interstate 70 on Kansas Highway 7 / US 73. Please Note:If you don’t have a Department of Defense issued ID card,you must stop by the Visitor Center at the corner of Metro-politan Avenue and 4th Street (See Map). All vehicles must have current tags, proof of insurance, registration and are subject to search when entering the installation.
Your self-guided tour starts at Wayside Marker 1 in front of the Frontier Army Museum, 100 Reynolds Avenue.
The oldest continuously active fortwest of the Appalachian Mountains
Fort LeavenworthWayside Tour13. The Old USDB “Castle” History
The center court of the old UDSB has a display describing “The Castle,” a massive stone building with eight wings radiating from a central six-story rotunda. There are addition-al displays that contain history of the other buildings as well.
14. Nez Perce Prisoners of WarThe Nez Perce Native Americans surrendered in Montana Territory in 1877, and were eventually brought to Fort Leaven-worth as prisoners of war.
15. United States Military Prison (USMP) CemeteryThis cemetery was established in 1884, for inmates who died or were executed at the USMP.
16. United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB)The USMP was established in May 1875 and later renamed the USDB. It was relocated to a new facility on Fort Leavenworth in 2002.
17. PeacemakersIn 1833, numerous Native American tribal leaders were brought here to negotiate with federal authorities to help create peace on the Plains.
18. Main ParadeSince the first tent camp was pitched at Fort Leavenworth in 1827, this field has been the center of the post’s activities. One of the houses across the field is “The Rookery,” the oldest surviving building on the fort, and the oldest continuously occupied residence in the state of Kansas.
19. Battle Training HistoryThis building was known as the “Beehive,” because it was once reserved for large military families and continually “buzzed” with noise. Currently, it houses the National Simulation Center.
20. West End ParadeThis was the site of encampments of volunteers during the Mexican-American War, Civil War and World War I. The Civilian Military Training Camp and Civilian Conservation Corps also used this area.
21. Saint Ignatius ChapelA commemorative park replaced the original site of the chapel, which burned in 2001.
22. Fort Leavenworth National CemeteryThis was one of the first 14 national cemeteries established by Abraham Lincoln in 1862. There are more than 23,000 graves representing every conflict since the War of 1812.
1. Queen of the Frontier PostsFort Leavenworth’s mission was to ensure peace and to protect commerce on the Santa Fe Trail.
2. Horsemanship TrainingGruber Riding Hall was built in 1908. Officer students and soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry, aka the “Buffalo Soldiers,” used it to practice horsemanship.
3. Missouri River OverlookThis scenic overlook offers a panoramic view of “The Highway to the West.” Members of the Lewis and Clark expedition scaled this bluff in 1806.
4. Command and General Staff College (CGSC)CGSC is the Army’s senior tactical school. Its beginnings trace back to the School of Application for Cavalry and Infantry, established in 1881.
5. Corral CreekThis site, established in 1855, was the livestock yard for Army contractors who hauled goods to western posts.
6. World War I and II Induction CentersThese centers were built to process the large numbers of troops that came to be inducted for World Wars I and II.
7. Buffalo Soldier MonumentGen. Colin Powell dedicated the Buffalo Soldier Monument in 1992, to honor the African-American soldiers who served in the various Buffalo Soldiers regiments formed in 1866.
8. Berlin Wall Monument and Grove of the RegimentsPieces of the barrier that separated West and East Berlin during the Cold War and a tribute to past units.
9. Arsenal of the WestSherman, Sheridan, Grant and Wagner Halls were built between 1859 and 1916 as part of the arsenal. Sherman and Sheridan were originally used as ordnance storehouses.
10. Cantonment LeavenworthThis is the site of the original, temporary campsite established on May 8, 1827, by Col. Leavenworth.
11. Trails WestThe cut in the hillside is one of the starting points of the Oregon and Santa Fe trails in Kansas.
12. First Territorial CapitolThis is the site of the first territorial capitol of Kansas from October 7 to November 24, 1854.
Wayside Points
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Lewis & ClarkCenter - CGSC
MerrittLake
SmithLake
VisitorCenter
Grant Gate
ShermanGate
City of Leavenworth
ShermanArmy Airfield
U.S. MilitaryPrison Cemetery
Hotel /Lodging
Exchange &Food Court
Express & GasStation
BowlingCenter
DiningFacility
Trails West Golf CourseClubhouse &Fairway Grille
ARNGMTC &35th ID
FrontierConference
Center
SolariumLunch Buffet
To Atchison
To Missouri
Commissary
Bank
BurgerKing
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FrontierArmy
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National C
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Cody Rd
Chief Joseph Loop
Gran
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Bidd
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Rile
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Iowa Ave
Gibb
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Pick Ave
McPherson Ave
Organ Ave
Bluntville Ave
Scot
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Bullard Rd
Liggett Ave
Robinson Dr
Sedgwick Ave
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4th
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Augur Ave
10th Cavalry Loop
Doniphan Dr
5th Artillery Rd
Sumner Place
Walker Ave
Custer Ave
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9th Cav RdSh
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Hancock Ave
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Gran
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King
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Pope Ave
McPherson Ave
Hancock Ave
Kearny Ave
Kansas Ave
6th Infantry Rd
Iowa Ave
7th Cavalry Rd
Sheridan DrReynolds Ave
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Kearny Ave
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Wint Ave
Kansas Ave
3rd Infantry Rd
Burnham Lp
14th Cavalry Loop
Iowa AveSc
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Riverside Ave
Sheridan Dr
Harry Bell Rd
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Pope Ave
Metropolitan Avenue
Cody Rd
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Wayside Points
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1. Queen of the Frontier Posts2. Horsemanship Training3. Missouri River Overlook4. Command and General Staff College5. Corral Creek6. World War I and II Induction Centers7. Buffalo Soldier Monument8. Berlin Wall and Grove of the Regiments9. Arsenal of the West10. Cantonment Leavenworth11. Trails West
12. First Territorial Capitol13. The Old USDB “Castle” History14. Nez Perce Prisoners of War15. U. S. Military Prison Cemetery16. U. S. Disciplinary Barracks 17. Peacemakers18. Main Parade19. Battle Training History20. West End Parade21. Saint Ignatius Chapel22. Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery
Find out more about Fort Leavenworth!Visit:
http://garrison.leavenworth.army.mil
Produced by theGarrison Public Affairs Office