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Fort hopes rain holds off for last evening tour
With a chance of rain in the surrounding areas, the staff of the Fort Scott National Historic Site are hoping for clear skies this weekend.
The last of four evening tours will begin at 6:15 p.m., Saturday, at the FSNHS, come rain or shine. FSNHS Ranger Galen Ewing said that two of the three previous tours were well attended while one was less due to rain. He said the tour in June had 50-60 in attendance as did the tour in August. However the tour in July only drew about 25. Ewing believes the rain had a large part to do with that. He said the rains came about 10 minutes after the tour began.
"We knew it was coming, hopefully it would hold off and it didn't," he said.
Ewing said the rain will not stop the final tour.
"If nothing else, we can adapt and overcome," he said. "It is the type of tour that we can do on the porches if nothing else."
The tour, titled The Border Showdown of 1860, will feature three scenes which are geared toward the troubles caused by James Montgomery who had been harassing Fort Scott for leaning toward pro slavery views following the Bleeding Kansas years. The attendees of the tour will be introduced to Brig. Gen. Daniel Frost who was the leader of the Missouri State Militia and on a mission to protect the citizens of the western counties of Missouri from Montgomery.
Ewing added that the tours, as well as the upcoming Candlelight Tours are set up as a prelude to next year's 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War.
There is no charge for the tour, but those who plan to attend are requested to sign up in advance by calling 620-223-0310. The tour will begin at 6:15 p.m. FSNHS is open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Although the evening tour is free, during the day there is an entrance fee of $3 for each adult age 16 and above. Children 15 and under are free.