Thread by @prchovanec

We stopped today to visit the Frontier Army Museum at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Though the museum is open to the public, it took a bit of time to apply for a security pass to get onto what still is a very active military post.

The fort was originally founded in 1827 by Colonel Henry Leavenworth, who was ordered to secure a base on the western bank of the Missouri River to protect the Santa Fe Trail into Mexico.

Throughout the 19th Century, Fort Leavenworth served as the critical logistics base for western expansion, whether into Mexico or across to Oregon, or to support the military actions against the Indian tribes in-between.

During the war with Mexico, Colonel Stephen Kearny advanced from Fort Leavenworth to capture what became the American Southwest before peace could be declared.

Its troops provided security and supplies for emigrants along the Oregon Trail, and later for homesteaders settling the prairie.

Later, in the 20th Century, Fort Leavenworth helped support the punitive expeditions into Mexico in search of Pancho Villa.

A heavy cloak to protect US soldiers against severe winter weather in remote posts on the western frontier.

A US Army hospital wagon on display at the Frontier Army Museum on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Many of the US troops on the western frontier were African-Americans, who the Indians called "buffalo soldiers" (because of their short curly black hair). This monument at Fort Leavenworth to the Buffalo Soldiers was unveiled by Colin Powell in 1992.

In the 20th Century, Fort Leavenworth became the primary US Army school for developing doctrine and training for future wars. Senior leaders like Eisenhower, Patton, and Hap Arnold studied here.

Fort Leavenworth today remains the "intellectual center of the Army", and many of the educational buildings give it as resemblance to a college campus.

Fort Leavenworth has also long been home to the United States Disciplinary Barracks, the prison for those convicted of crimes while serving in the US military. Needless to say, we were not allowed anywhere near it.

Just west of Fort Leavenworth, on our way to Atchison, we passed the imposing entrance to the massive federal penitentiary there (not to be confused with the military prison). It would have made a great photo, but all the prominent "no trespassing" signs made me think again.

So the last two photos (unlike the others) I just grabbed off the internet, to give you an idea.