Infantry Barracks-Museum

Soldiers on Foot

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Amenities

9 listed

Elevator, First Aid/Medical Care Available, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Restroom, Theater/Auditorium, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Drinking/Potable, Wheelchair Accessible

Before you is one of two reconstructed infantry barracks, home to the infantry soldiers at Fort Scott. Called the "backbone of the army," the infantry soldiers, marching into combat on foot, formed the core of the army's fighting forces. Many were dismayed to learn upon arrival at Fort Scott that they were to be used as a glorified labor force. Using tools such as the adze and broadax, the infantry hand hewed the beams used to build this and other fort structures. Several complained they had not joined the army to build houses.

This situation was not unique to Fort Scott however. General Zachary Taylor stated, "The ax, pick, saw, and trowel have become more the implement of the American soldier than the cannon, musket, or sword"

Today, this reconstructed infantry barracks houses a theater and museum exhibits. The 23 minute movie and the interactive exhibits inside provide a good orientation to the site's history. An elevator provides access to the second floor for the mobility impaired.

Site Movie

The 23 minute movie, Dreams and Dilemmas: Fort Scott and the Growth of a Nation, was produced in 2009. It provides an introduction to the site's history and covers events Fort Scott was involved in from 1842-1873, one of the most critical eras of our nation's history. During that era, the nation acquired vast territory, expanded rapidly westward, and was torn apart by Civil War. Soldiers and civilians at Fort Scott witnessed and participated in these events.

The movie is played in the upstairs auditorium and can be started by pushing the button below the screen. The movie is captioned for the hearing impaired. Devices that provide assistive listening and audio description for the movie are available at the visitor center.

Exhbits

Exhibits about the site's history can be seen on both floors of this building. Displays on the first floor include maps, artifacts, and interpretive panels that tell the story of Fort Scott and its soldiers during the 1840s.

On the second floor, visitors can view interactive exhibits addressing Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War. As visitors walk through the exhibit, they hear the stories of six different characters who provide diverse perspectives on the turbulent events of the time. Characters share their stories through a series of short video snippets, all of which are captioned for the hearing impaired.