Kingman, Kansas is a town where timeless charm meets forward-thinking ambition. In this feature, Kansas Weekly’s Nathan Engels sits down with Economic Development Director Leslie Schrag to explore how the city is actively investing in its future while preserving the soul of its past. From red brick streets and 1800s-style architecture to innovative grant programs like KEEP, Kingman is redefining what it means to thrive in rural America. The KEEP program (Kingman Economic Enrichment Program) is helping small businesses revitalize storefronts, update signage, and transform aging buildings into hubs of local energy and pride. Whether you’re a visitor, a hopeful entrepreneur, or just someone who appreciates a great comeback story, Kingman is proof that small towns can dream big — and deliver. This is a story of momentum, identity, and bold community spirit.

Summary: Buffalo Soldiers, Custer, and the Second Life of Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge, located just outside Dodge City, Kansas, is more than a historic military post. That’s right friends, it was actually a powerful symbol for America's complex frontier history. Originally built as a strategic outpost, the fort played a crucial role in the Indian Wars and later became home to the legendary Buffalo Soldiers (black regiments who defended settlers, built infrastructure, and fought bravely despite racism and harsh conditions).

General George Custer, known for his controversial and brutal campaigns against Native Americans, also operated out of Fort Dodge during the 1868–1869 Winter Campaign. While he didn't fight directly at the fort, it was a base for his aggressive westward missions.

After the wars, Fort Dodge transformed into the Kansas Soldiers Home in 1890, offering care and shelter to veterans. It remains active today, preserving original buildings, a cemetery, and a rich museum collection.

Fort Dodge matters because it encapsulates:

• The valor of the Buffalo Soldiers

• The moral complexities of westward expansion

• The ongoing care for America's veterans

Today, visitors can walk its grounds, tour the museum, and feel the subtle, lasting energy of the frontier. Fort Dodge doesn’t shout its history… it whispers it through the wind! Check out part two of our feature on Fort Dodge! It just might change your life!

Discover Fort Dodge: The Forgotten Stronghold That Shaped the West

Just outside the legendary and EPIC home of the wild west Dodge City, lies one of Kansas’ most legendary landmarks, the beautiful Fort Dodge. Built in 1865, this Fort was made to protect the innocent and often delicate travelers on the Santa Fe Trail, and was used as a frontline force in the Indian Wars. It was home to the brave Buffalo Soldiers, and a launchpad for frontier legends like George Custer. Today, it serves as both a living museum and the Kansas Soldiers Home. Don’t just drive through this monumental city before going into Dodge City, stop and walk around the original grounds, explore their preserved buildings, and uncover the powerful story of how this unassuming fort helped shape America’s westward expansion. It’s one bitchin story for one legendary city!