Frontier Military Historic Byway

Frontier Military Historic Byway. Beginning Your Byway Tour. , Fort Leavenworth , Founded in 1827, Fort Leavenworth is the "Post that opened the West" and the oldest operating fort west of the Mississippi. Open to the public, the "Best Hometown in the Army" contains well-preserved historic homes and buildings along with a self-guided Wayside tour. The National Cemetery, established in 1862 by Abraham Lincoln, and the Frontier Army Museum, telling the area's story since 1800, are special attractions, as is the Buffalo Soldier Monument dedicated in 1992 by General Colin Powell. , Fort Scott , Fort Scott, home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and Cemetery, was established in 1842 to protect the Permanent Indian Frontier. The army abandoned the fort in 1853 and it became a full-fledged city during the Bleeding Kansas era. With the turmoil of the Civil War, Fort Scott again became an active US Army Headquarters. Following the war, Fort Scott was a premier frontier city, even competing with Kansas City as a railroad center. The 20th century saw Fort Scott grow into the agricultural and industrial center it is today. , Leavenworth , Leavenworth, the "First City of Kansas," was incorporated in 1854 as a "jumping off point" for the West. The historic city still contains magnificent homes dating from the mid-1800s like the 1882 Carroll Mansion, a diverse variety of dining choices, and quaint shops in the 28-block historic downtown. Take a self-guided tour of Leavenworth and Fort Leavenworth, stroll along the Missouri River, or visit its numerous museums. , Pittsburg , The discovery of coal led to the founding and naming of Pittsburg in 1876, also attracting railroads. An industrial center, miners were recruited from abroad to provide labor, and by 1887 the first mines were sunk. Other natural resources such as clay and zinc provided additional materials for industry while Pittsburg State University, founded 1903, provided training. Today, the mines are largely empty, but their importance is still visible at attractions such as "Big Brutus," the 16-story power shovel in West Mineral, Kansas. , Kansas City, Kansas Metropolitan Area , The Kansas City metro began as fur trappers and traders from St. Louis moved up the Missouri River. Founded in 1838 at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, Kansas City was a strategic point for commerce and security, becoming a major city west of St. Louis. With several important trails, Kansas City facilitated westward expansion and witnessed tensions leading to the Civil War. Today, the Byway passes cities in the metro including Kansas City, Shawnee, Merriam, Overland Park, Lenexa, and Olathe. , Baxter Springs , Before European settlement, the Osage tribe would pass by the natural mineral springs, believing them to have healing properties, on their way to their hunting grounds. Later, the area became a trading post as Texas cattlemen drove their herds north, making it Kansas' first "cowtown" following the Civil War. Originally named Baxter's Place after its founder, Baxter Springs' main street was soon designated as part of the transcontinental Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California. Today it remains a local center of activity. , Louisburg , When explorers first arrived, they found forested hills and flat prairies. The land became home to the Confederated Tribes of Peoria, who relocated after ceding their lands in the east. By 1867, a community called St. Louis formed on the fertile farm ground. As it developed, attracting the railroad, the area saw "Bleeding Kansas" conflict as a border town. To avoid confusion with the larger St. Louis, the city changed its name to Louisburg in 1872 and has remained a regional center since. , Past Forward , Storylines of the Kansas Byways , The byway is moving from the Past Forward in innovative environmental and military practices. The Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge has completed a forest-based carbon sequestration project while Fort Leavenworth's Combined Arms Center constantly improves future battle command. , Immigrants All , Storylines of the Kansas Byways , This byway was the starting point of Immigrants All into Kansas and beyond, and signs are still visible. From the Santa Fe Trail passing the junction of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers to military trails leading across Kansas, business hummed as traders and pioneers stopped, many of whom decided to stay.