Begin at Fort Leavenworth and tour the Fort (identification will be required at the gate). There is an overlook and natural area in the Missouri River Valley where birds and wildlife abound.
Fort Leavenworth includes a National Cemetery, the Command and General Staff College, Memorial Chapel and the Rookery, the oldest residence in Kansas.
Traveling into the city of Leavenworth, Leavenworth Landing Park focuses on the role of the city as the "gateway to the west." It focuses on the forms of transportation that brought settlers through time to this area including a walking trail, sculptures of steam locomotive and a a Conestoga wagon, steamship paddle wheel, etc. It offers a great view of the Missouri River. Contact 1-800-844-4114 for a map and brochure of the historic wayside tour of the city to learn about Carry Nation, General Sherman, Susan B. Anthony, the Underground Railroad and other historic characters.
The byway winds south along the Missouri River on K-5 to I-435 around the Kansas City Metro Area to U.S. 69. The Kansas City Area has numerous scenic, historic, cultural, natural and recreational attractions to choose from including the Grinter Place, Johnson County Museum, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm (a Santa Fe Trail stopping place), Miller Nature Center, etc.
Upon leaving the Kansas City metro area, the byway travels through Miami County where the Samuel Adair Cabin (John Brown's hiding place) is preserved and open to the public in Osawatomie. Also stop at the Louisburg Cider Mill for some fresh apple cider.
Proceeding south, continue your tour of the history of the Frontier Military Road and visit the state historic sites of the Marais des Cygnes Massacre and the Mine Creek Battlefield Site, the only Civil War battle in Kansas.
You may also want to get your binoculars out and spend time at the Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area viewing birds and wildlife.
Then it's on to Fort Scott and the National Historic Site as well as the Victorian District. Victorian homes converted to beds and breakfasts provide comfortable accommodations. You can also see a collection of Gordon Parks photographs and poems at the Mercy Health Center.
The southern portion of the byway continues through wildlife areas that are converted coal mine sites. Be sure to stop in Pittsburg and Baxter Springs along the way.
This tour will take several days to complete.
For more information about the Frontier Military Scenic Byway, contact:
- Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce
Fort Scott, KS
fstourism@fortscott.com
- Keyta D. Kelly
Leavenworth County Couselor at Large
300 Walnut, Suite 228
Leavenworth, KS 66048-2725
913-684-0441
kkelly@leavenworthcounty.org
