All too soon we're 

part of History


Help preserve our past...today

A Special Program about the Indian Village Site on PBS!

Cottonwood Connections, sponsored by Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site at Studley, Kansas, uses the story of the Cottonwood Ranch as a way to explore the history of the Great Plains region. The show, now in its fifth season, is produced by Ed Lowry and hosted by Don Rowlison, manager of the Cottonwood Ranch historic site.


Ed filmed the 2024 Mess & Muster programs, as well as an interview between Dr. Leo Oliva and Don Rowlison, and edited everything together for an episode about the Cheyenne-Lakota village site and the Hancock Expedition. The program airs on Smoky Hills Public Television, and this episode is available on YouTube. You can also stream the entire series on the PBS website.

About Us

Fort Larned

Was a key military post in the development of our nation's westward expansion. It was built to protect mail and freighting routes along the Santa Fe Trail. From 1859 to 1878 it played a key role in Indian / White relationships. Today it's one of the best-preserved Indian Wars forts in the United States.

Fort Larned Old Guard

Was established in 1988 as a 501 (c) 3 organization. It's mission is to assist Fort Larned National Historic Site in restoring, preserving, developing, and interpreting the Fort's cultural, historical and natural resources for the benefit of the public and posterity.