“The First City of Kansas” counts adventurers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark among its earliest visitors. The Corps of Discovery Expedition arrived in what would soon be known as Leavenworth in the summer of 1804 as they mapped their way across the growing American West. Their story fueled a zest for exploration, and the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails became thoroughfares for settlers seeking fortune in new lands. Fort Leavenworth was established in 1827 to keep both pioneers and tradesman safe on the road, and is now the second oldest Army installation this side of Washington, DC. Fort visitors can still see tracks carved into the hills two centuries ago by westward wagons.

Leavenworth is a city that hosted Abraham Lincoln in 1859, drawn by his abolitionist views and the Kansas Territory’s “bleeding” reputation. Less than a year away from winning the presidency and two years from the start of the Civil War, Lincoln delivered speeches condemning the spread of slavery to overflowing crowds. One keynote was delivered from the steps of the Planters Hotel, which have been preserved for present-day guests looking to practice their oratory skills.

We are a city of suffragists, soldiers and showmen. Susan B. Anthony was a frequent guest, and our National Votes for Women marker is just one way we celebrate her fight for equal rights. The 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of four all-black infantries founded in 1866, got its start here, and we honor their time on the frontier with our Buffalo Soldier Monument and through the work of the Richard Allen Cultural Center. C.W. Parker, the “carnival king of Kansas,” built his carousels and amusement park attractions in Leavenworth, and a restored 1913 “carry-us-all” is the anchor of his namesake museum downtown.

Follow in the footsteps of history’s greats as you see the “First City” for yourself. See elegant Victorian-era mansions and dine in restaurants like The Depot, a spot for hearty breakfasts housed in an 1887 Santa Fe railroad station. A trip through Leavenworth is a trip through time.