Hays in Ellis County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Officers in Tents

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 20, 2012

1. Officers in Tents Marker

Inscription.
Sometimes officers shared quarters on officers' row, three or four men to a house. Housing was assigned by rank and seniority within that rank. If a higher-ranking officer was transferred to the fort, he could bump a lower ranking officer out of the house. This was called "ranking out." If all homes were occupied, the lowest ranking officers (and their families, if they had them) lived in tents on the fort grounds.

Some officers put together more than one tent for their dwelling with another tent nearby to serve as a kitchen. These tents were treated as home and were equipped with furniture, décor, wood-burning stoves, and in some cases, wood floors. But with blowing snow in winter and oppressive summer heat, these campers were still "roughing it."

Erected by Kansas Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Wars, US Indian.

Location. 38° 51.731′ N, 99° 20.635′ W. Marker is in Hays, Kansas, in Ellis County. Marker is on the grounds of Fort Hays State Historic Site, off US Hwy 163 Alternate. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1472 US Highway 163 Alternate, Hays KS 67601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker.

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Sentinel Hill (here, next to this marker); Fort Hays Military Cemetery (a few steps from this marker); Outhouses (within shouting distance of this marker); Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Guardhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Well House (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Hays - Fort Dodge Road Trailhead (within shouting distance of this marker); Officers' Row (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hays.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Hays State Historic Site. (Submitted on September 23, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Fort Hays State Historic Site. (Submitted on September 23, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Officers in Tents Photo on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, undated

2. Officers in Tents Photo on Marker

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 20, 2012

3. Officers in Tents Marker

Looking northwest

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 20, 2012

4. Officers in Tents Marker

In right foreground. Looking southwest

Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 584 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 23, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.