7/6/16 - Hill City, Kansas

This morning we went to Larned, Kansas, and toured Fort Larned National Historic Site before the temperature got too hot.  This fort was established in 1859 to protect traffic along the Santa Fe trail from hostile Indians.  It was in use until 1878 when it was abandoned because the Indians had been moved to reservations and the completion of railroads ended the need for the Santa Fe Trail.  The fort's sandstone buildings are original and have been furnished to their original appearance.

After touring the fort we drove to Hill City, Kansas.  On the way we stopped at KFC to get chicken.  Today was National Fried Chicken Day.  After getting a site at the county fairgrounds we drove to Nicodemus National Historic Site.  This is a collection of a few buildings from the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the reconstruction period following the Civil War.  At its peak the town had a population of about 700 but only about 50 people live there today. The town declined when a railroad was constructed closer to another nearby town.

After seeing Nicodemus we went back to Hill City and walked around the fairgrounds to get in our 10,000 steps.  We found a geocache and noticed an unusual atmospheric phenomena - anticrepuscular rays.  These are similar to radiating sunset light rays but emanate from a point opposite the setting sun.