A post with a past and a few ghosts: The haunted history of Fort Leavenworth

Established in 1827 by Col. Henry Leavenworth, Fort Leavenworth is the U.S. Army’s oldest continuously operating bases west of the Mississippi River. 20… Established in 1827 by Col. Henry Leavenworth, Fort Leavenworth is the U.S. Army’s oldest continuously operating base west of the Mississippi River. 2027 marks the 200th year of its operation, so the military history that’s been made on the post can be seen in its remarkable collection of historic buildings, U.S. Army museums and enduring traditions. One enduring tradition is the unexplained encounters and spooky legends told by former and current civilian employees, retired Army leadership, the enlisted soldiers they command and their families who mysteriously died on post, or those still living to tell the tales to whomever may listen For Megan Hunter, museum specialist and current interim director of the Frontier Army Museum on Fort Leavenworth, the appeal of those stories goes beyond the supernatural.

“The allure of ghost stories helps to keep historical places like Fort Leavenworth alive,” Hunter said. Many of the historic homes that remain on the post offer the most intriguing examples of ghost sightings or other uncanny, unexplained events over the centuries. One place in particular is The Rookery, located at 14 Sumner Place. Construction was completed in 1834, making the building the oldest surviving structure at Fort Leavenworth and