Leavenworth, Kansas

Leavenworth Landing

 "Turkeys are plenty on the Shore  G. Dwyer informs me that he Saw PueCanns (pecan) trees on S. S. yesterday.  great quantities of raspburies an Grapes... pass a run on the L. S. a Butifull extensive Prarie, two Islands just above called (Isle des Parques) or Gield Islands"   July 1st ,

 Leavenworth, Kansas provides excellent views of the Missouri River that are reminiscent of  what Lewis and Clark observed on their journey.   The site of the Leavenworth Landing allows students to get close to its broad, swift moving current.  A museum on Fort Leavenworth and marked sites on the fort provide a glimpse into what life was like for the pioneers who followed in the wake of the Lewis and Clark expedition.  In addition, there are several markers and waysides of the expedition that provide a visual image for the text of the journals.

    The best assignment in this area is for students to bring copies of the journals from July 1st to July 3rd with them to read and compare to what they see today.  The River Front park in the city of Leavenworth, and the area along Hancock Hill on Fort Leavenworth provide good views and  displays  that match the descriptions in the  journals.

    A map of the leavenworth and Fort Leavenworth area is found at http://www.lvks.org/map.html

Leavenworth Landing
 

    River Front park provides a broad walkway that allows students to walk along the banks of the river.  The benches by the river provide excellent spots for journaling activities, or eating lunch. (You will pass fast food places as you come through town on Hwy 7 if you wish to stop and eat.) A raised stone map shows the trails heading west with a steady flow of immigrants who followed in the wake of Lewis and Clark.

    River Front Park is easily accessible by traveling north on Hwy 7 through town and turning right on Cherokee. There is ample parking for buses just steps away from the park.

    This is an excellent photo and journal opportunity for students who can later add these images to their journals.  It is also a good spot for sketching or map making. 

Fort Leavenworth

    Fort Leavenworth is an active military base, that is layered in history.  There are markers to the Santa Fe Trail, military history,  and a monument to the Buffalo Soldiers.

    It also has a Frontier Army Museum that can give your students an overview of what happened after Lewis and Clark passed through here.  In addition, the museum has assembled a corps of living historians who will  be available for encampments and presentations. Moreover, regularly scheduled encampments and presentations will take place at the Frontier Army Museum.  Contact (913) 684-3191/3767 or e-mail web-dptm-museum@leavenworth.army.mil
 
 

    There are the markers on the fort commemorating the journey of Lewis and Clark.  These are found along Hancock Hill, a short walk from the  Frontier Army Museum.  One of the first is the newly placed marker by the Daughters of the American Revolution.  It overlooks a stretch of Missouri River.

    On the site now occupied by Fort Leavenworth, stood Fort de Cavagnial, a French outpost.  It was  abandoned  by 1804 as Clark notes "the French formerly had a fort at this place, to protect the trade of this nation..."  In this same area stood a Kansas Indian Village, also described by Clark on his July the 2nd 1804  entry.
 

    A wayside marker nearby gives an artist rendition of the area at the time of Lewis and Clark with Fort de Cavagnial represented.
 


 

    The most impressive physical trace left on the fort's grounds is the wagon cut that travelers along the Santa Fe trail.  To reach this well marked spot, travel directly down the main street of the Fort until you reach the Untied States Disciplinary Barracks.  Follow the road to the right that leads to the river and you will find the cut.