Fort Riley museum a must see

Any visit to historic Fort Riley, Kansas must include a stop to the post's U.S. Calvary Museum.

The U.S. Cavalry Museum building was constructed in 1854 and used for nearly thirty years as the Post Hospital. In 1889, as Fort Riley's mission changed from a frontier to a school post, this building was remodeled and became post headquarters. At that time, a new front entrance and bell tower were added. Notice the change in architectural style from the smooth "pasture" cut limestone indicative of the fort's initial construction in the 1850s to the rough, "quarry faced" stone cut indicative of construction between 1885 and 1912.

This building continued as headquarters until 1948. In 1957 it became the home of the Fort Riley Museum which became the U.S. Cavalry Museum five years later.

The museum's nearly 10,000 square feet of exhibit space displays the colorful history of the American mounted horse soldier from the Revolutionary War till Operation Desert Storm. Included in the Museum's collection are uniforms, weapons equipment and other memorabilia.

Free or Donations

Monday - Saturday 9am - 4:30pm
Sunday: 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Closed during major holidays.

Bldg. #205, on Custer Avenue

785-239-2743

*When visiting Fort Riley, you will need to have with you a valid photo ID, proof of vehicle registration and proof of current insurance to obtain a day pass to get on post.

**Photos of Fort Riley Museum and Statue by Joel Bales copyright 2008