Sep 04, 2026

Explore Frontier Army health care at historic Fort Hays on Saturday

Posted Sep 04, 2026 9:45 AM
Historic Fort Hays. Courtesy photo
Historic Fort Hays. Courtesy photo

Kansas Historical Society

The public is invited to learn about health are and medical services at a frontier Army post during a special presentation at Fort Hays Historic Site from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5.

"Health Care and Service at a Frontier Army Hospital" will be presented by Sherrie Smith, Hays, a longtime Fort Hays volunteer, who has dedicated more than 40 years to researching and sharing the history of the site. 

Smith's research has primarily focused on women's history, including the lives and roles of camp followers, washerwomen, officers' house servants and hospital matrons.

The presentation will explore health care at Fort Hays during the years the post was operational, with a focus on diseases that affected soldiers and other residents of the frontier military community. Smith will also discuss the challenges faced by Army medical personnel as they treated illnesses in an isolated frontier environment, as well as the important role hospital staff played in maintaining the health of the post. 

This event is free and open to the public. Donation are always appreciated and go directly to supporting the preservation of Kansas history.

For more information about this presentation, and other programs at Fort Hays Historic Site, please visit kansashistory.gov.