Parade Ground: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Fort Scott National Historic Site

Regions 3, 4, & 5 Park Cultural Landscapes Program

Inventory Unit Description: The Fort Scott National Historic Site parade ground is an (approximately) 350-foot square grassed area that is the central landscape feature around which all buildings and structures of the site are situated. The current location is the same of the historic period. Although the surface characteristics of the parade ground have undergone several changes over the last 150+ years, it remains the same essential landform that was selected in 1842 as the core of the fort. Due to the reconstruction and restoration of the buildings around its perimeter, the immediate setting around the parade ground has been restored to the historic period as well. The fact that it is an excellent representation of standard frontier fort parade ground design can now be considered its distinct quality. Other significant features include the relatively level ground plane, the spatial organization and definition formed by the surrounding buildings, the layout of the paths around its perimeter and that which bisects it in a northeast-southwest direction, and the structures that lie along this path. After Captain Benjamin Moore, 1st Dragoons, selected the general area of the fort site in 1842, the more specific location of the parade ground was chosen and measured off. Around the four sides of this square, the required number of buildings were constructed, and the parade ground was ultimately given vertical spatial definition by their presence. Since there is very little historic documentation about the parade ground during the primary period of significance (1842-1853), information regarding the presence of features and their condition during that time is largely based on conjecture. It is possible that grass seed was planted, but more than likely the surface was covered with native grasses that were periodically cut or simply worn down by foot traffic. It was reported that trees were planted on the parade ground, most likely in a double row in front of the officers quarters, and in a group around the well. The powder magazine, well and Greek Revival well canopy were constructed and completed by October of 1844. The flagpole at the center of the parade ground was constructed between 1848 and 1853. In 1855 all of these structures and the fence that surrounded the parade ground were sold in the public auction of all the buildings, miscellaneous structures and governmental property that comprised Fort Scott (Bacon 1992, 14-17). After Fort Scott property was auctioned off to settlers in 1855, the parade ground was converted to a town square, known as Carroll Plaza. It eventually took on characteristics typical of a small town park, such as lawn grass, additional trees, an expanded path system, and a bandstand in the center. After the site was restored to a representation of the old fort by the 1980s, the parade ground had acquired a layering of both historic and current landscape characteristics. The parade ground is associated with three periods of historic significance that are related with Fort Scott. They are the Frontier Years (1842-1855); Bleeding Kansas (1855-1861); and the Civil War (1861-1865). Currently the parade ground is in excellent condition. It retains high integrity in terms of location, design, feeling, and association. It retains moderate integrity in terms of materials and workmanship. It retains low integrity in terms of setting. Several features now present, such as the manicured lawn grass, scattered trees in the interior, and extensive sidewalk layout, are most likely not representative of the parade ground as it existed during the period of significance, but their presence does not detract from the overall historic character. The Parade Ground is a complex landscape feature located within the parent landscape (Fort Scott National Historic Site) that can be managed as an individual element.

Parade Ground: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Fort Scott National Historic Site

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