Fort Larned NHS - Fort Larned National Historic Site and the Fort Larned Old Guard are pleased to announce the Old Guard’s annual meeting, the Mess and Muster, on Saturday, April 22. Join us for an all-day event celebrating the life the Army’s enlisted soldiers. The Old Guard is Fort Larned’s official friends’ group. This year’s Mess and Muster features living history demonstrations and talks looking at the daily life and service of soldiers in the Indian Wars Army. The day ends with dinner, followed by a traditional Victorian Ball.
All events are open to the public, and free, except for the dinner, which requires a reservation and a fee. If you’d like to have dinner, contact Leo Oliva at 785-425-7312, to make a reservation, or go to www.lastchancestore.com to register online. The deadline for dinner reservations is April 14.
10 to 10:30 am - Full Dress Cavalry Drill
10:30 to 11 am - Full Dress Infantry Drill
11:00 am - Rebels No Longer: Galvanized Yankees and the Post Civil War West
1:00 pm - What's for dinner? Cooking demonstration of enlisted men's food in the Army
2:00 pm - Infantry and Cavalry Small Arms Firing Demonstration
3:00 pm - The Bulldog: Mountain Howitzer Firing Demonstration
4:00 pm - To Live or Die at Fort Larned: Frontier Army Medicine
4:30 pm - Retreat Ceremony: Traditional Army Flag-Lowering
6:00 pm - Catered Dinner
7:15 pm - Victorian Ball with music by the Kansas Brigade Band and caller Marla Matkin
The Fort Larned Old Guard is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organized to help with historical education, scientific and interpretive activities of Fort Larned National Historic Site. For more information about the group, or information on how you can be part of their work, contact Fort Larned National Historic Site.
Fort Larned National Historic Site is located six miles west of Larned on Kansas Highway 156. You can find information on visiting on our Plan Your Visit Page, by calling 620-285-6911, or email us. For information on area tourism partners, lodging, dining, and community services visit the Larned Chamber websiite, or 620-285-6916.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service