Leavenworth, Kansas, lets you follow in the footsteps of history’s greats, from Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and “Buffalo Bill” Cody to the intrepid explorers of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Here, you’ll see wheel tracks left centuries ago by wagons headed west on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. You’ll relive the fight for freedom during the “Bleeding Kansas” era, when Leavenworth served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Walk the hallowed grounds of Fort Leavenworth, “the post that opened the West” in 1827 and founded one of the country’s first “Buffalo Soldier” cavalries. Take a whirl on a restored 1913 carousel built by C.W. Parker, “the Carnival King of Kansas,” and tour a lovingly preserved Victorian mansion. You’re bound to hear countless tales of the trailblazing soldiers, suffragists and fortune seekers who made “the First City of Kansas” their home or, like Lincoln, just couldn’t resist a visit.

But Leavenworth is anything but stuck in the past. We offer 28 blocks of shopping in our historic downtown, with specialty stores for handmade jewelry, flashy fashions, trendy home décor, antique treasures, quilting supplies and more. Our international dining scene includes Caribbean, Mediterranean, Italian, Tex-Mex, Japanese and Korean dishes, but don’t miss out on the chance to grab a cheeseburger from Homer’s Drive-In, a Leavenworth favorite since 1931. Got a sweet tooth? We’ve got gelato, gourmet cupcakes, decadent cheesecakes and fudge made fresh each day. Z&M Twisted Vines sells its wines and ciders to go, or you can pull up a barstool in the tasting room and catch up with friends over a frozen wine slushie, always a treat on a hot summer day. And the city recently welcomed two breweries to its downtown, so stop by one (preferably both!) to talk to the teams that made your new favorite locally crafted ale.

There’s always something to see or do in Leavenworth. Stop by to learn more about our history – or make a little history yourself. 913-758-2948 or VisitLeavenworthKS.com