
Hays CVB
The Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays will offer a free-to-the-public, two-day encampment event to commemorate and celebrate local Fort Hays period history. “Historic Fort Hays Days: Where History Lives!” will be a celebration of culture and history on June 11 and 12 at the Historic Fort Hays Site at 1472 US Hwy 183 Alternate.
Planned activities for the two-day event and 19th Century festivities include period encampments of Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations, infantry soldiers, Buffalo Soldiers, scouts, historical figure portrayals, vintage dress-up photos, historical speakers under the Chautauqua-style tent, music, dancing, vintage baseball game, old time preaching on Sunday morning, and much more.

Building community engagement by providing fun and educational experiences is part of the Society of Friends’ motivation. The group wants to share their love of local history and is excited about building a relationship with the Oklahoma Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations (descendants of the Washita confrontation that were brought to Fort Hays stockade in 1868) that are participating in this event. This will be the first visit to Fort Hays for the Oklahoma Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations descendants.
History presentations under a Chauquatua-style tent will include: new research by D.K. Clark about Custer’s last fight – Decisive Point, the history of medicine in the West by Sherrie Smith, Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations stories, songs and remembrances of Washita, a cast of living historians, infantry soldiers, and Buffalo Soldiers.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations will construct a small Indian village of ten tepees on the west grounds of Fort Hays for authentic dances, stories, and traditional crafts. Fort tours will be ongoing throughout the afternoon programing.
Other demonstrations and activities on the fort grounds will include a local food truck, vintage dress-up photo room with commemorative photos, wagon rides, blacksmith demonstrations, soldier’s uniform display, and sutlers store.
A performance by Blackwolf band and special dance caller will highlight the Saturday evening activities. The caller will direct the dance sets and demonstrate the steps to period dances. Dancers are encouraged to attend in 1860s dress but all dancers are welcome! Some dances will be free style and not called.
The Sunday schedule includes an old-time church service with hymn singing. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations are included and will sing native language church songs. A vintage baseball game between the Fort Hays Post Nine and the Hays City 9 local boys team will follow. Baseball historian Mark Eberle will announce and explain the 1869 rules for the crowd.
For additional information, call the Historic Fort Hays Site at 785-625-6812.