With nine beautifully restored buildings Fort Larned offers the opportunity to experience military life on the Santa Fe Trail. Established on the vast prairie in western Kansas, troops stationed at Fort Larned protected mail coaches, freighters and other Trail traffic. As the site of an Indian Agency, the Fort was also instrumental in maintaining friendly relations with Plains Indians.

As Fort Larned closes in on its 150th anniversary in October 2009, park staff and community leaders are planning a series of special events focusing on celebrating the Fort�s history throughout the year. As the best preserved Indian Wars military post on Santa Fe Trail, Fort Larned National Historic Site is one of the Nation�s most compelling places to tell about that turbulent era of two cultures fighting for control of the West. For the Plains Indians, it is a story of fighting for homelands in the face of overwhelming numbers and superior weapons. For the military, it is a tale of hard fought battles and skirmishes, some won and others lost, eventually leading to �Winning the West�.

Admission to Fort Larned NHS is free throughout the year and events as now planned include:

Santa Fe Trail Days (May 2)- Supporting Larned�s Santa Fe Trail Days, Fort Larned presents Santa Fe Trail living history. Hosts U.S. military band concert and sponsors U.S. military band participation in Santa Fe Trail Days Parade.

Custer on the Plains (May 23 thru May 25)- This largest living history event in Kansas focuses on the �Hancock Expedition�, a military campaign intended to �shock and awe� the Plains Indians into peace with a show of overwhelming military force. Although lead by General Hancock, that dashing young Civil War hero General Custer was a major actor in this important expedition into Plains Indians homelands. The Fort Riley Commanding General�s Mounted Color Guard will set up a horse soldiers camp and perform cavalry demonstrations on the 23rd and 24th. May 23- See Fort Larned much as General Custer saw it. Activities at Fort Larned include artillery, cavalry and infantry encampments and demonstrations. Dinner and period dance. Visit the soldiers in the barracks, the blacksmith, officers wives and many more in the Fort. General Custer himself will be on hand for a presentation. May 24- Emphasis shifts to the �Indian Village on Pawnee Fork�, where Custer first met Plains Indians, Presentations and demonstrations focus on Indian village life and military and Indian Agency relations with Indians.

Volunteers on the Plains 1859 to 2009 (July 3 & 4)- This special event honors volunteer units manning Fort Larned during the Indian Wars and 21st Century heroes. Special ceremonies and living history memorialize contributions by volunteer state militia replacing regular army troops redeployed east to fight in the Civil War. 21st Century military and civilian disaster responders will demonstrate equipment and field operations. A special program recognizing Medal of Honor recipients will be presented.

Labor Day Celebration (September 5 thru 7)- This event continues living history presentations of daily life at Fort Larned, including Buffalo Soldier cavalry. A dinner theater and presentations on �Galvanized Yankees� are also planned.

Fort Leavenworth Memorial Service (September 19)- A memorial service honoring the 65 soldiers moved from Fort Larned and reinterred at Fort Leavenworth in 1888 will be conducted in the Fort Leavenworth cemetery. Activities to include an infantry firing salute, chaplain, guest speaker, color guard and more. Congressman Moran is invited. 150 Years Guarding the Santa Fe Trail (October 10 and 11)- This two-day event is the final in a series of events commemorating Fort Larned�s role as �Guardian of the Santa Fe Trail�. Offerings over the two days include: Oct 10- Telling the story of Fort Larned from its beginning as a tiny isolated camp on the vast Plains to its full development through a series of living history stations and demonstrations. Special presentations continue at the �Little Red House� and Camp Sibley in Larned. A special Candlelight Tour program will be conducted in the evening. Oct 11- Rededication Ceremony activities include reenacting the arrival of troops establishing Fort Larned, rededicating the Post Cemetery, military displays, artillery salute, parade, military flyover and more. President Obama is invited.

Fort Larned National Historic Site is located six miles west of Larned on Kansas Highway 156. Admission is free. The park is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the year. Visit Fort Larned on the internet at www.nps.gov/fols.

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Derek Mackenzie-Hook UK & Ireland Marketing and Public Relations Representative Kansas & Oklahoma Travel, Tourism and Recreation Tel: 08450 533 280 Email: press@TravelKsOk.co.uk www.TravelKs.com