Physical / Mobility

The main parking lot at the south entrance of the historic site includes designated parking near the Visitor Center for guests with disabilities. Upon arrival, the rest of the journey is either by foot or, if necessary, by wheelchair. Two wheelchairs are available for checkout at the Visitor Center.

Several types of paved surfaces provide access to the buildings at the site. Brick walkways lead up to the Visitor Center. From there, concrete aggregate sidewalks lead around and through the parade ground. Visitors will also encounter stone surfaces that make up the walkway along Officer’s Row as well as various front porches, and asphalt walkways that lead to the buildings behind Officer’s Row.

Visitors should be aware that the brick walkways and the stone porches can be uneven and rough to negotiate; assistance may be required. Those who use wheelchairs should be aware that the stone walkway along Officers' Row is only accessible using the concrete walkway in the middle of the parade ground, as there are stairs on either end.

The Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible via ramps at both the north and south entrances. Other buildings with ramps that allow access to the first floor include the infantry barracks, the guardhouse, and the mess hall in the dragoon barracks.

Buildings that are wheelchair accessible without ramps include the dragoon stables, ordinance shed, carriage house, and powder magazine. The laundress quarters and company office located in the dragoon barracks, may be viewed from their respective doorways, but the interiors of these rooms are not open to the public for entrance.

For those visitors who experience difficulty with stairs, there are exhibits on-site which require little climbing in order to view. The commandant’s office, the first floor of the officers’ quarters, and the bakery are all exhibits with just one or two steps up to the entrance.

In many of the rooms along the route, the site has placed ADA compliant armchairs and settees where visitors can sit and rest.

The second floor hospital exhibit and other second floor exhibits are not wheelchair accessible. However, there is a virtual tour of all of the park historic rooms on the web page at www.nps.gov/fosc/learn/photosmultimedia/360tours.htm. Wheelchair accessible public restrooms are located in the Visitor Center, the west infantry barracks, and on the ground floor of the east infantry barracks (during events).

The site's film, which are located in a reconstructed west infantry barracks, are fully accessible via elevator. On the first floor of the building are exhibits about Fort Scott in the 1840s. On the second floor are interactive exhibits about Bleeding Kansas, the Civil War, and the site's film. The film can also be viewed on the site's website, www.nps.gov/fosc/historyculture/index.htm

A Mobile App available through the App Store for IPhones and IPads allows visitors to view information about each building and furnished room. There is also a section with a virtual reality experience of the Quartermaster's Complex. This allows those with limited mobility to see exhibits that would be otherwise inaccessible.