'Putting on the Dog' at Fort Scott National Historic Site

Staff and volunteers at Fort Scott National Historic Site are getting ready to "put on the dog" during the 28th annual Good Ol' Days celebration, June 6 and 7, in Fort Scott, Kan. Throughout the festival weekend, visitors will find living historians portraying Fort Scott's officers and their wives showing off their finery and pursuing various recreational activities of the mid-1800s. Hourly programs, living history demonstrations, exhibits, and a daily tour at 1 p.m. will give you further insight into Victorian life and leisure.

During the 1840s, hunting was a favorite pastime of the post officers while their wives enjoyed exploring the prairie and collecting wildflowers. "Flora and Fauna of the Tallgrass" at 12 noon Saturday will give visitors insight into the plants and animals they encountered.

"Everybody Here is Hunting Mad," at 2 p.m., Saturday, further details the officers' obsession with the sport. An exhibit of 18th and 19th century guns and ongoing trapping demonstrations by the Missouri Free Trappers will also be offered.

The officers' ladies enjoyed a variety of leisure activities. Women rode horses along with their husbands but required special equipment and clothing to ensure modesty. Riding demonstrations will be ongoing both days. Hand crafts such as tatting, embroidery, and crochet were common. Stroll the grounds and observe some of these pastimes. Flirting with a fan was an art practiced and perfected by young women in the Victorian age. Learn about the "Language of the Fan" at 10 a.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Enjoy a "Victorian Fashion Show" at 3 p.m. each day. Costumes worn for various recreational activities will be featured.

Writing poems and letters were common pursuits of both sexes. Michelle Martin will present "The Tongue is More Useful than the Arrow" delving into the letters of Thomas and Charlotte Swords. Both officers and their wives enjoyed learning the latest dance steps and were practiced in the etiquette of the times. Learn more about both at 4 p.m. on Saturday, and noon on Sunday.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The usual $3 entrance fee has been waived for the weekend. Entrance and all site activities are free. For more information call the site at (620) 223-0310 or visit www.nps.gov/fosc.