Sitting on an expansive prairie with gorgeous views for miles, Fort Hays was active from 1867 until 1889 and was populated at times between 17 and 560 soldiers.
Well-known characters such as Wild Bill Hickock, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Custer all passed through the area, built on a major transportation route for military supplies.
There’s not much left of the fort now, but what is there gives you a small taste of life at the time. There were originally 45 buildings on the property but today only four are still standing.
Buildings
- Two Officer’s Quarters
One building is the officer’s quarters which contains two homes. Some of the rooms show just basic needs while others show the more affluent possessions that some officers and their wives may have used.
The living space is really quite large and would have been very comfortable back then. We felt we could even live there today.
2. Stone Guardhouse
The stone guardhouse is another building still standing and was built in 1872. Inside you’ll see replicas of a jail cell, the bunk areas that the enlisted soldiers slept in (four to a bed!) along with other memorabilia. Again, it felt spacious – except for the jail cell. As usual it was small and cramped, with only a small window in the door. It would have been horrible to be in there especially during the summer heat.
3. Stone Blockhouse
Another stone building still standing is the blockhouse which was built in 1867. It’s a very interesting building because it’s shaped very differently than most old-west buildings – it’s in the shape of a hexagon. There are many interesting artifacts inside the building, including information on the wonderful architecture .
Metal Silhouettes
Another unique and creative aspect of the fort is the 13 metal silhouettes beckoning you to stop and read about the people and buildings where the silhouettes are located.
Some of the displays have a QR code that you can access and hear some amazing stories of the time.
Visitor Center and Gift Shop
Be sure to stop inside the visitor center to see more displays. There is more information about the history of the area and a sketch of the fort in 1889 that shows where each building was located, and you can get a better understanding of how large the facilities and grounds were.
A nice gift shop in the visitor center enticed us to show our usual support for museums. David bought a map of Kansas Forts and I bought the book Kansas Forts & Bases by Debra Goodrich Bisel & Michelle M. Martin. The funny thing was neither of us realized what the other was buying, yet they complement each other perfectly.
Oh – and one more thing…
If you like haunted places, there is a rumor that the area is haunted by the ghost of Elizabeth Polly, known as “the blue light lady,” the wife of a doctor’s assistant. Sadly, she contracted cholera while taking care of others during the epidemic in 1867.
Fort Hays is located at:
1472 US 183
Alternate
Hays, KS 67601
Admission is free.
Hours are 9am-5pm, Wednesday through Saturday, 1-5pm on Sundays.
As always, please check the website for changes.
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