fort hays state historic site

Enjoyed going to see where Custer was stationed at and to actually see a fort. Lots of history here and am a history buff so really enjoyed this.

I'm not sure what I expected, but there just isn't much there. It's worth driving through, but it is not worth making a major sidetrip for it, unless you have some particular historical interest in it.

I visited this place a few weeks back. Was very impressed by it. Hays is an old west town with lots of history and when you are done checking out the fort there are a lot of other interesting places to visit there. Just across the road from the Fort is a field with Buffalo. There are some really nice restaurants down in Old town, with some great shops too.

Ah, those were the days: Discovers and Soldiers and Indian Wars and refined wives from back East… The fort was constructed in 1867 and it closed in 1889, having never been attacked by hostile Indians or any other treat. The soldiers thus had to attend to routine daily duties, when they were not drinking or playing cards or paying for the previous two with a stay in the bunkhouse (one of the four surviving buildings). As to the officers, they had to worry about the bore of their wives and how to get some good seafood from back east… Custer was never officially stationed here, but he stayed near by twice, accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth. Buffalo Bill was Army scout and Wild Bill was, well, Wild Bill! We got a short tour, then were handed a map and were invited to visit the rest of the premises. A lot of good historical photographs and info, clear and interesting signage, all this for a nominal admission fee. There was supposed to be a Buffalo herd at the West End, but we could not find it, just signs warning us of “Buffalo Danger”. Stop by if it’s along your way and if military history interests you. After leaving, we realized the friendly and knowledgeable attendant had waited for us after her closing time (we had not realized we left Mountain Time several hours earlier).

We were greeted nicely and toured the visitors area. There was a film and lots of information. Also given a guided tour of the officer's quarters. Two of the original homes have been found, moved back to the fort and restored. This fort is a work in progress but it was very nice to leisurely wander about the ground and tour the buildings at our own pace.

A good view of cavalry life in the old west. Great buildings and an insight into what the soldiers lived like during the late 1800's. Worth taking the time to visit.

Fort Hays was officially closed but we could drive right up and look around. Many of old officers' houses preserved nicely. The grounds were clean and included informative signs and old relics like wagons and barrels. Would have been nice to see it during open hours but we got a good flavor of the old place just by walking the grounds on our own.

If you like history, then you should enjoy a visit to Historic Fort Hays. A nice collection of some of the actual building which gives you a little more feel of what life was like at the fort. The tour is part with an informative guide and then the rest is self-guided, but with good information posted. A nice touch is when you pay your admission which is $5, you also receive a card with a name from someone who was stationed at the fort. When you get to the guard house, you can look up the name and get an interesting bio about them. Also at the fort is the oldest building in northwest Kansas. An enjoyable bit of history!

For years we would stay in Hayes on our way to Colorado to go to our vacation home but never toured the Fort. This year upon returning from a western trip we did stop. The information person did a great job of showing us the 2 restored homes and explained the area in great detail. Unfortunately the weather was very windy and since I us a walker we were unable to tour the other 2 buildings on the compound. Across the street were several buffalo.

We loved looking around at the history of Hays,...many things to see and stories to read. The feel of Hays is so great,..very welcoming and comfortable. Lots to see and do in Hays American

We stopped by Fort Hays State Historic site and it was closed. We were not the only people there as there were 3-4 other parties walking around the grounds. None of the buildings were open but we were able to look into some of the windows. It looked like it was a very interesting place to visit and I will have to come back next time I am in the area. There is a really cool American Bison statue there and a nice trail around the grounds. Across the street is a herd of live Bison which are always worth watching.

If you are a fan of the plains/Indians wars and frontier military life this is a must see. There is a guided tour and self tour, the guided tour you get to see 2 original officers quarters filled with time period accurate artifacts. Grounds are well kept. The only down side is the golf course that backs up to the property.

Fort Hays Historic Site near Hays, Kansas is certainly worth a stop. This was a fort in service in the later part of the 1800's. There is a very nice Welcome Center, with a short video about the site. Also in the Welcome Center are exhibits depicting life there. You can take a tour of 2 of the original officer's quarters. There are also 2 other original buildings on the property, and they have interactive activities so that you can learn more about this important Fort and it's place in Kansas history. Just recently acquired are silhouettes on the grounds of persons who served at Fort Hays, and markings with descriptions of where other buildings were located and their purpose. Very nice educational stop to learn of our western expansion in Kansas.

The organized tour is thoughtful and informative. It covers part of the fort, while the other areas are accessible to visitors via self-tour. The state historical society has done an excellent job of preserving and partially restoring the 19th-century site. One has a sense not just of local history but also how the fort and its counterparts on the High Plains figured in the history of westward expansion and in the relations between European and Native Americans. Another strong point is the vivid picture painted of the lives of the soldiers of the day, including details of everyday life, the pitfalls of payday binges, and the hazards of frontier living. To get the most of the visit I would recommend spending two to three hours, but a quicker walk-through is also possible and interesting.

It is a well preserved piece of Kansas history. Our guide was very informative. The grounds were well kept as were the buildings. The live buffaloes across the road are a nice touch. The gift shop had a nice selection.