Kinsley, Kansas and Fort Dodge

We left this morning to drive over to Dodge City. They have an overlook on Rt 50 that shows the actual ruts of the Santa Fe Trail that we wanted to see. As we drove out of Kinsley we passed this sign..









It seems that Kinsley is also known as Midway, USA!



Then it was on to Dodge City. Driving down the road we saw signs for Fort Dodge and decided to go see it.

Originally, Fort Dodge provided protection for the Santa Fe Trail and also for the frontier communities including Dodge City. In 1890, Fort Dodge was deeded to the State of Kansas for use as a Soldiers Home. Some of the original buildings are still standing. There is a skilled long term nursing facility, rec center 3 resident halls and 65 cottages. Housed here are veterans from the Civil War to Vietnam. What a wonderful thing the State of Kansas does for its veterans!

On to what we started out to see. About 9 miles west of Dodge City on RT 50 we found the spot.


There was a sidewalk with bridges that crossed the ruts. Here is Ed standing in one of the ruts. You had to look close and use some imagination. They don't show up well in the picture. But they were actually there. Seems the wagons didn't go single file, but at some points were 2 or 3 wide!