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Frontier Army Museum 1800-1916, Ft. Leavenworth, KS


gwb123
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Note: This museum is on an active US Army installation with security measures in place. Civilians can enter the post by showing a driver's license or similar ID. Your car may be subject to a brief search unless you are accompanied by a military member.

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My son and brother recently visited the US Army's Frontier Army Museum located on the grounds of historic Ft. Leavenworth, home of the Command and Staff College.

 

The first exhibits you encounter are about the post itself, and it's role since the frontier days to the present. It tells the story of how over time it became a center of learning for military professionals.

 

In the course of that time it was Signal Corps School as well as the hub for other branches.

 

The model is a Tiger Tank, somewhat crude in detail, used for the instruction of officers deploying to the ETO.

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The next portion of the museum focuses on the role of the Army in exploring the west. As the exhibit points out, the Lewis and Clark expedition was a military operation. It would be followed by many more until the west was fully charted.

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Drum and sword...

 

Opening of trade routes in the West soon required the protection of the Army. A chapter in the development of the western Cavalry was the formation of the Dragoons.

 

In a less glamorous role, Army mule skinners drove supply wagons.

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Westward expansion let to conflict with Spain from the beginning, and eventually to the Mexican-American War...

 

These mountain howitzers are veterans of the campaign, and are inscribed with the battles where they support US Attacks.

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A remarkable and unexpected display of captured Mexican weapons and field gear. The leather was in incredibly good condition.

 

The display explained that while many of the weapons were British or of other European origin, Mexican powder and munitions were substandard. This resulted in reduced range and accuracy when fighting the Americans.

 

Note the copper cannon ball. This just seems like a bad idea from the start.

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The Mexican-American War display emphasized the role of Artillery during the war, including the advent of "light" artillery. Designed to be highly mobile and able to react quickly, each member of the gun crew had their own horse and drilled to develop speed as well as accuracy.

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There is a Civil War gallery in the rear of the museum, but unfortunately we did not have time to tour it in detail. However in the front of the museum are several large caliber guns that were sent by rail for the defense of Ft. Leavenworth. The situation in Kansas and Missouri was far from certain during the war, and the post was always in danger of Confederate raids or attack. Defensive positions were dug around the perimeter of the Fort, which served both as a communications hub and supply depot for Union forces in the west.

 

 

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The exhibits continue with the role of the Army escorting settlers to the West....

 

There is mention of the Indian Wars, but it is not the primary focus of this museum.

 

It does show a Medal of Honor belonging to a soldier who eventually settled in Leavenworth. (The display acknowledges the ribbon is not original to the medal.)

 

A very rare item is a shako helmet for an Indian Scout.

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If nothing else, the museum displays a rare collection of 19th century wagons used for various logistics functions...

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The museum moves forward to the pre-WWI era, and the equipment becomes closer to what we recognize today. The finale of the exhibit is the Punitive Expeditions against Pancho Villa on the eve of the First World War. (Which segued very nicely to our visit to the National World War One Museum the next day in Kansas City.)

 

The layout of the field gear surprised me... the bedroll seems very low to the center of gravity. I don't think I would have wanted to carry this rig.

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Note the markings on the JN-4, which matched those in a period photo from the Punitive Expedition...

 

As fearsome as the M1902 artillery piece looks, these were left stateside during WWI in favor of the French 75.

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Not far from the Frontier Army Museum is this stunning larger than life monument to the Buffalo Soldiers and the role they played in securing the West.

 

Below the statue is a park dedicated to the role that African Americans have played in the Armed Forces of the United States.

 

(Later edit: Hawkdriver also posted a thread about this monument area: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/118531-buffalo-soldier-display-at-ft-leavenworth/?hl=leavenworth)

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The final surprise of the day was stumbling across the Berlin Wall memorial...having seen the original in place, this meant a lot to me.

 

I hope everyone has enjoyed this quick tour of the Frontier Army Museum. If you can work it into your travel plans, it is worth the stop. Be sure to check their hours, especially since they are currently closed on Sundays and Mondays.

 

There is a driving tour available of historic locations on the post. A copy of the map can be obtained at the Museum.

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Thanks for posting. It has been a long time since I toured the museum (I think they took us there when I was in Junior High as a field trip). Looks like I need to take a trip back.

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My wife and I visited in June. Great museum, beautiful post.

 

Beautiful post indeed... very tranquil and well kept. Good place to study I am sure. It is probably the best looking Army post I have ever seen.

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RustyCanteen

Very nice!

 

Thanks for the photo "tour", it looks like a great museum. There are items pictured that you just don't see outside of drawings or illustrations.

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I think my favorite part of Fort Leavenworth are the very pronounced wagon ruts coming up out of the river. I remember our guide pointing them out on our school trip many years ago. The cut is so deep it almost looks like a boat ramp. Kind of cool...

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