By nightfall, I reached Garden City, Kansas, and camped out at the Garden City Inn. After passing through several small communities during the day I was impressed with the size of this city and the more eastern appearance. I inquired of a citizen as to why Garden City, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, was so large and settled. The reply was that I had wandered into meat packing country, and that there were at least two large packing plants in this area, employing hundreds of people. The city has much of historical interest to see, such as the Finney County Museum, the walking or driving tours of downtown, and the Finney Buffalo and Game Refuge. Unfortunately, the itinerary did not allow for a more leisurely stay in Garden City, so early the next day I was off for Dodge City and beyond.
East and south of Historic Dodge City, Kansas is old Fort Dodge. Once an important part of the security of the Santa Fe Trail, the fort still serves America's soldiers as a veterans home. Pictured above is the "Custer House." Tours of this post commander's home can be made by appointment. In spite of its name, LT. Colonel George Custer never lived here. Though he may have visited Ft. Dodge, he was never stationed here.
The old post hospital was restored and a new section added. It now serves as a primary care clinic for the the resident veterans and other eligible veterans.
The old quartermaster buildings are still standing. The one pictured is used as the fort museum and library for the veterans.
Just west of Dodge City on highway 50 is a turnoff where one can see remnants of the old Santa Fe Trail
Can you see the Santa Fe Trail tracks? I could not! A marker instructs you to look for subtle, unnatural undulations in the terrain that represent the changes caused by hundreds of wagons passing this way.