Basics
- Length:
- 167 miles (268 km)
- Time:
- 3 hours
- Fees:
- There are no fees along the byway proper.
Description
The Frontier Military Scenic Byway was designated a state bywayby the Kansas Legislature on June 15, 1990. The byway extendsroughly 167 miles tying Fort Leavenworth to the north with FortScott at the south and then onward to the Oklahoma border. Itfollows K-5 out of Leavenworth to I-435, then follows U.S. 69 andAlternate U.S.69 to the state line. The route approximates the oldmilitary trail used by the Army to transport troops and suppliesbetween the frontier forts.
The Frontier Military Scenic Byway contains unique historic,natural and recreational attractions and sites. In addition, ajoint project by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, KansasDepartment of Wildlife and Parks and Quail Unlimited, is plantingnative wildflowers along the byway. The route is primarily atwo-lane, paved roadway with one interstate segment. It offers manyamenities along the way. The local committee is in the process ofdeveloping additional amenities for the future including an outdoor reenactment site at Mine Creek.
Points of Interest
Points of Interest Along The Way
Fort Scott, Kansas (KS)
Directions
The fort's primary purpose was to keep peace between therelocated Indians from the east, nomadic tribes and white settlers.As it turned out the Indians were quiet and the main duties were toguard caravans on the Sante Fe Trail and patrol the far IndianCountry. The area where the fort was built had been the ancestralland of the Osage. The fort was in use from 1842 to 1853. In the1870s, the U.S. Army returned to the town of Fort Scott, this timeto protect workers building a railroad across disputed land.
