Christmas Past Event

Our Christmas Past celebration takes place on the 2nd Saturday in December. The date for the 2024 Christmas event is December 14.
 

What makes a holiday special?

Holidays are a combination of special family traditions and wider cultural practices. However we celebrate, there's always an excited anticipation for these once-a-year celebrations. Just like today, the soldiers, officers and their families at remote frontier Army posts in the 1860s eagerly anticipated Christmas. For them it offered a welcome break from the dull routine of garrison duty.

Everyone looked forward to presents, special holiday traditions, and, of course, those favorite holiday foods, Getting the ingredients for a holiday meal could be difficult if stationed at a remote frontier post like Fort Larned. Many Army units and garrisons planned for months in advance to make sure they got the ingredients for these special Christmas foods.

Our Christmas Past event tries to capture that feeling of holiday excitement. We have pictures with Santa, crafts and games for the kids, and living history demonstrations.

Christmas meals were often a mix of traditional Christmas dishes and everyday favorites. The dishes served at our Christmas Open House event were all mentioned in frontier Christmas accounts. The recipes are all from 19th century sources. We invite you do try them out for yourself and enjoy a "taste of Christmas past."

 
  • Table with pies.
    Pies

    Recipes for the pies served at the Christmas Open House.

  • Holiday cakes on a table.
    Breads & Cakes

    Recipes for the bread and cakes served at the Christmas Open House.

  • Table with serving bowls of soup.
    Soups

    The soup recipes served at our Christmas Open House

Last updated: January 26, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1767 KS Hwy 156
Larned, KS 67550

Phone:

620-285-6911
This phone is answered during regular business hours. After hours calls will be answered the next day. Please select a mailbox or leave a message on the main extension when the fort is closed.

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