Fort Larned National Historic Site

Fort Larned is a military post in Pawnee County featuring nine restored sandstone buildings arranged around a central parade ground. The grounds include residential quarters, storage buildings, workshops, and other structures that show the complete layout of a frontier military installation.

The post was established in 1859 and operated as a military base until 1878 along the Santa Fe trade route. Its presence protected traders and travelers while also serving as an administrative center for managing regional tribal relations.

The fort served as a meeting place where military personnel and representatives from Plains Indian tribes conducted business and negotiations regularly. The layout and buildings reflect how these two worlds intersected on the frontier during daily operations.

The site is freely accessible to visitors and offers guided tours through the buildings and grounds. Plan your visit during daylight hours when you can fully explore the structures and read the informational displays throughout the property.

The fort is named after Colonel Benjamin F. Larned, an Army paymaster who never set foot on the site during his lifetime. Despite this lack of direct connection, his name became permanently associated with this important frontier installation.