On October 17, Fort Scott National Historic Site will celebrate Frontier Day. This year’s event will focus on crafts, skills, and games among settlers, soldiers, and Indians on the frontier. Frontier life was rigorous and demanded hard work.  Crafts and skills such as soap making and blacksmithing were vital to the well being of individuals. Even recreational activities like games, music, and dancing were not just for amusement but also to hone skills, prepare an individual for battle, and teach valuable life lessons.

 

To demonstrate these skills, several reenactors will be on site making soap, candles, and bread, chopping wood, and discussing surgery and medicine of the time.  Stations will be set up where participants can try their hand at Indian crafts and letter writing.  Visitors can compete in games like those enjoyed by settlers and Indians. The whole family can turn out for a rousing game of baseball, played according to 19^th century rules.

 

A highlight of the day will be an appearance by Dancing Eagles Lisa and Michael Pasetopah who will perform spectacular Native American dances. Their repertoire includes the old style fancy dance, the eagle dance, the hoop dance and the chicken dance. Lisa performs many different women's dance styles such as; buckskin, southern cloth, jingle and fancy shawl. The Dancing Eagles will also present a storytelling program as part of the evening campfire program. Joining them at the evening campfire program will be the Gum Springs Serenaders, who play a wide variety of period music. This musical group will also be performing on the grounds of the site during the afternoon.

 

The schedule of activities for the day will be as follows:

 

• 11:00 a.m.-“Ready, Aim, Fire”-Blackpowder Demonstration
• 12:00 p.m.-“Honing Your Skills”-Historic Games Program
• 1:00 p.m.-“A Unifying Force”-Civil War Baseball Demonstration
• 2:00 p.m.-Musical Program-Gum Springs Serenaders
• 3:00 p.m.-Dancing Eagles-American Indian Dancing
• 4:00 p.m.-“You’re a Grand Old Flag”-Flag Retreat program

 

Also going throughout the day will be a variety of demonstrations and craft stations. Stations include Indian crafts, letter writing, soap making, candle making, bread making, wood chopping, and medicine. Most stations will be open from 10 am-4pm. 

 

 Fort Scott National Historic Site is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is an entrance fee of $3.00 for each adult 17 and over. Children 16 and under are admitted free of charge. For more information call the site at 620-223-0310 or visit our web site at www.nps.gov/fosc.