In the 1830s, settlers heading for the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails crossed the Missouri River at this point. Teams of oxen pulled the loaded wagons through the "cut " in the hillside you can still see today.
Attractions and Upcoming Events
Headquarters Area
Headquarters area buildings are named for Generals Sherman, Grant, and Sheridan. They were built from 1859 to 1904 and are on the site of the former soldiers burying ground.
Fort Leavenworth, KS Historic BuildingsOld Stone Wall
The Stone wall behind and across the street from Grant's statue is a favorite with photographers. The wall was restored in the early part of this century by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Fort Leavenworth, KS LandmarksNational Cemetery
Designated a National Cemetery by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 along with eleven others, military graves date back to 1846. Today, more than 20,000 veterans representing every war since 1812 are buried in the cemetery. Two soldiers from Operation Desert Storm were interred here in 1991.
Fort Leavenworth, KS CemeteriesThe Rookery
The Rookery at 12-14 Sumner Place is the oldest house in Kansas. It was completed in 1834 and was the first permanent post headquarters building. Lieutenant Douglas MacArthur lived here in the early 1900s. The building is a Registered National Landmark.
Fort Leavenworth, KS Famous HomesU.S. Disciplinary Barracks
The "DB," as it is known, was established as a military prison in 1873. The buildings inside date from 1863 to 1964. The DB is the only military maximum security facility. This USDB closed in 2003 and the inmates were moved to the new USDB on the west side of the fort. The 'castle'
Fort Leavenworth, KS Historic BuildingsThings to do near Fort Leavenworth, KS
Historic Waysides Tour at Fort Leavenworth
In 1996 Fort Leavenworth was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark and a portion of the fort is on the Na...