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5 Free Things to do in Fort Scott Kansas

Free Things to do in Fort Scott Kansas

I was pleasantly surprised by my recent trip to Fort Scott, Kansas. There’s a lot to see and do in this small historic town, and all the great attractions are free!

My site isn’t called Broke Girl Abroad for nothing. I’m always looking to save money on any trip, and Fort Scott made it easy. Here’s my list of the 5 best free things to do in Fort Scott!

5 Best Free Things to do in Fort Scott

1. Fort Scott National Historic Site

Free Things to do in Fort Scott Kansas

While this 1840s military fort never actually saw battle, it did serve as an important supply base for the Union Army during the Civil War. Today, visitors to this site (operated by the National Park Service) can view a variety of protected structures, including four officers’ barracks, a hospital, guardhouse, post headquarters, quartermaster stables, a bake shop and more.

Tours operate daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. I went on one and throughly enjoyed the park ranger’s insight!

199 Old Fort Blvd, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Open daily 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

2. Gordon Parks Museum

Free Things to do in Fort Scott Kansas

Located inside Fort Scott Community College, the Gordon Parks Museum provides a remarkable look at the iconic photographer’s career.

You’ll get to see his most famous photos, including a signed print “American Gothic, Ella Watson,” as well as mementos from the set of his films and items from his childhood.

2108 S Horton St, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday

3. Gunn Park

Free Things to do in Fort Scott Kansas

If you’d like to continue on the trail of Gordon Parks, pay a visit to Gunn Park. It’s a beautiful and quiet public park used for scenes in Parks’s movie “The Learning Tree.”

1010 Park Ave, Fort Scott, KS 66701

4. Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Free Things to do in Fort Scott Kansas

Maybe the most delightful aspect of the Lowell Milken Center (yes, that Lowell Milken behind the Milken Educator Awards) is how the discoveries of these unsung heroes came about. 

Oftentimes, students would be researching a class assignment and stumble upon amazing feats of courage by unknown people. Those students would then make the effort to recognize the person behind the heroic acts. The Milken Center now rewards students and their findings through the Discovery Award.

You’ll come across quite a few stories covering several different time periods and leave with a bit of a brighter view of the world.

1 S Main St, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Open 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday

5. Rock Creek Waterfall

Free Things to do in Fort Scott Kansas

Rock Creek Waterfall is about. a10 minute drive outside of downtown Fort Scott. Be careful as you arrive, one of the “entrances” is private property (you’ll see a sign).

There’s a grassy area to park your car, then you’ll journey down a gravely road until you hear the sound of rushing water. Rock Creek Waterfall is surprisingly hidden from immediate view, making it a wonderfully immersive visit.

Feel free to follow the trail onward if you’d like, or have a picnic near the waterfall.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

I can’t believe all of these fun spots are completely free to visit! Have to been to any free attractions in Fort Scott? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

Pin the 5 best free things to do in Fort Scott!

Safe travels!

-Maggie

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