Fort Osage, Kansas City

This was a drop off point for parties heading west. It at one time was the last stop, and a fort to protect the settlers around here. The fort is reconstructed, but still has that old charm. A lot of history is depicted at the fort and the tour. Lewis and Clark came through here, and Clark designed the structure in 1808-09. It was a trading post also for the Osage Indians, hence the name.

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The first European visitors to the area were French fur traders. After the US purchased the area from the French, forts and settlements such as this sprung up. Located fifteen miles east of Kansas City on the banks of the Missouri River is this re-creation of Fort Osage, built in 1808. Features living history programs led by costumed re-enactors. See my Sibley, Missouri, page for additional information and photos.

Fort Osage still looks like a frontier out post with a log stockade, cabins, and guard towers. It is listed as part of the KC metro area but it took me half an hour driving to get there once I left Independence. It is a pleasant drive and the fort looks great. I say it looks great because when I got there it was closed. I was there on a Tuesday and it is open on Wednesday through Sundays. I got to walk around and look at it but that was all.