Fort Scott was originally established in 1842 by the US Army. Troops were placed at the fort as protection for the “Indian Frontier.” But by 1853 the frontier had pushed westward, causing the Army to abandon the fort. The buildings at this site were later auctioned off to local settlers. It wasn’t until the start of the Civil War that troops began to reoccupy the old fort buildings. It was the presence of the Union Army that allowed Fort Scott to flourish, avoiding the destruction that other communities suffered. After the war, with the help of westard expansion & several railroad lines, Fort Scott became a booming town with visitors from all over the country. Now more than 175 years later the community welcomes visitors from all over the world.