Kansas - Fort Scott, Topeka

Fort Scott -
Our first stop in Kansas was Fort Scott, located in the south-east corner of Kansas.  We had just crossed the border from Missouri and as it was a National Historic Site, we decided to seek it out and get our National Parks stamp.  Fort Scott is a restored 1842 U. S. Army Post.  When the fort was established, our nation was still young and confined primarily to the east of the Mississippi River.  As America grew, settlers pushed west, forcing American Indians from their tribal lands in Tennessee, the Carolinas, Florida, and other east coast states to the lands west of the Mississippi.  But beginning in the 1840s, settlers began to push farther west along the Oregon and Santa Fe trails.  Conflicts arose between the settlers and the Indians and a line of forts were established along the frontier stretching from Minnesota to Louisiana to keep peace.  Dragoons from Fort Scott patrolled trails west, providing safe escort for the numerous wagon trains.  The fort was abandoned after the Mexican-American War in 1946-48 but was reactivated during the Civil War and remained active until 1873 when the Army moved out and the buildings were sold at auction to local citizens.  Local restoration efforts started in the 1950s and the fort became a national historic site in 1978.

Topeka -


We spent two nights in Topeka, in Lake Shawnee Park, a city campground.  We had a beautiful campsite overlooking the lake.  The park includes not only the campground but a 7-mile walking-biking trail that goes around the lake, a beautiful and popular golf course, a swimming beach, and a public garden.  This was a very convenient site from which we could visit the State Capitol and the Brown versus Board of Education National Historic Site.  The Capitol would have been exceptionally beautiful except for the extensive renovation efforts inside and the construction equipment surrounding the exterior.  The renovations started in 2000 and everyone is hoping they are completed "in a year or two.  Call before you come."  Construction of the capitol began in 1866 and except for the top of the dome, was completed 37 years later at a cost of $3.2 million.  The dome was capped off in 2002 with a statue of a Kansa warrior named Ad Astro, which means "to the stars through difficulty." The arrow points to the North Star, I guess so non-native Kansans can’t get lost. From the ground floor to the top of Ad Astro's bow is 304 feet - 16 feet higher than the U. S. Capitol in Washington, DC.  The capitol is constructed primarily of Kansas limestone.  The interior has elaborate marble columns and

wainscoting, massive copper and bronze columns in the Senate chambers, and beautifully restored and polished copper staircases and railings.  The Senate and House renovations are complete and the chambers are exceptionally beautiful.  It was amazing to learn that the beautiful and ornate ceilings and murals had been painted over or covered with drop-down ceiling panels prior to the restoration.  No wonder it is taking so long to complete the restoration efforts.  Unfortunately, the rotunda and dome are still under repair and were not accessible and could only been seen through a very thick and dark plexiglass panel.  We will try to return in a few years so we can see the changes. http://www.kshs.org/portal_capitol

While in Topeka, we also visited the Brown versus Board of Education National Historic Site.  This old Monroe Elementary School was one of four segregated elementary schools in Topeka.  This building has exhibits addressing the long fight for equal rights, from slavery, through the Civil War, the "Jim Crow" years, the Civil Rights marches and protests.   This historic site is dedicated to the premise "equal justice under law" and the ruling that "in the field of public education the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place.  Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" - from the 1954 Supreme Court decision.

Before leaving Topeka, Don managed to get in a round of golf, continuing his quest to play in all 50 states.  This was his 39th state.  He shot an 84, not too bad. Of course, it was only a par 70 course.