Honor Pledge

I pledge my word and honor that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this work. Amelia Carrier

Photo URls

• https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F2%2F27%2FDigging_For_Diamonds_%25282245556315%2529.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCrater_of_Diamonds_State_Park&docid=U5O_G2GeZ1HrRM&tbnid=FiKtkubgBkdaFM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjwgJf-rtrTAhXDWSYKHb9fD3EQMwg5KAAwAA..i&w=858&h=635&bih=710&biw=774&q=Crater%20of%20diamonds%20state%20park&ved=0ahUKEwjwgJf-rtrTAhXDWSYKHb9fD3EQMwg5KAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8
• http://aboutstlouis.com/local/parks/cuivre-river-state-park
• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gfp-missouri-cuivre-river-state-park-walkway-up.jpg
• https://civilwartalk.com/threads/my-visit-to-missouri-civil-war-museum-and-jefferson-barracks.114311/
• http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=FO031
• http://fortwiki.com/Fort_Coffee
• http://www.lindaweisrealty.com/armed-forces/fort-leavenworth/
• http://www.ordnebraska.com/fort-hartsuff-news/
• http://www.panoramio.com/photo/75736034
• http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/fort-smith-national-historic-site.htm
• http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ARFS5.html
• http://www.kia.com/us/en/vehicle/niro/2017?cid=sem&ppc=y&aud=nro_b

Budget

My goal was to spend no more then $100 a day minus the cost of food. I did this quite easily. The $122.61 spent on food could be divided into 7 days, making the price $17.51 a day. Adding this to the price of most of my days beside the day I spent $90 would be bellow my estimated daily budget. 

I spent $118.87 on gas, this was lower then the estimated original price of gas.

Citations

Works Cited

Cox, Dale. Fort Smith, Arkansas - Historic Sites and Points of Interest. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ARFortSmith1.html>.

"Fees & Reservations." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <https://www.nps.gov/fosm/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm>.

Fort Coffee (fort) | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=FO031>.

Fort Hartsuff 1874-1881. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/markers/texts/fort_hartsuff.htm>.

"Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park (Burwell, NE): Top Tips Before You Go - TripAdvisor." Read Reviews and Book Your Perfect Trip. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g45469-d1078454-Reviews-Fort_Hartsuff_State_Historical_Park-Burwell_Nebraska.html>.

Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://forthartsuff.org/>.

Fort Leavenworth Kansas - History and Hauntings. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ks-fortleavenworth.html>.

"Fort Leavenworth." Military.com - Base Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-leavenworth>.

"A Gem Among Diamond Sites." Crater of Diamonds State Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/>.

"Google Maps." Google Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. <www.google.maps.com>.

"Henry Leavenworth." Henry Leavenworth | The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.usdakotawar.org/history/henry-leavenworth>.

History.com Staff. "James Madison." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/james-madison>.

History.com Staff. "Zachary Taylor." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/zachary-taylor>.

Hoptak, John David. "48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry." Getting To Know. . .General George Lucas Hartsuff. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://48thpennsylvania.blogspot.com/2009/01/getting-to-know-general-george-lucas.html>.

Judge Isaac Parker - The Hanging Judge of Indian Territory. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ar-isaacparker.html>.

Missouri Forts of the Old West. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-forts.html>.

"The Top Things to Do in Troy 2017 - TripAdvisor - Troy, MO Attractions - Find What to Do Today, This Weekend, or in May." TripAdvisor/. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g44978-Activities-Troy_Missouri.html>.

"United States History." History of Fort Smith, Arkansas. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2303.html>.

"Welcome to an Engaged Community." Fort Madison, IA - Official Website - History of Fort Madison. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.fortmadison-ia.com/index.aspx?NID=203>.

"Welcome to an Engaged Community." Fort Madison, IA - Official Website - Old Fort Madison. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017. <http://www.fortmadison-ia.com/index.aspx?NID=265>.
Kia. "2017 Kia Niro | Completely Redesigned Crossover | Kia." Cars, SUVs, Hybrids, Minivans & Crossovers. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2017. <http://www.kia.com/us/en/vehicle/niro/2017?cid=sem&ppc=y&aud=nro_b>.

Photos

Sign before you enter the park

Trail up from the river in Cuivre River Park

Cuivre River Park water 

Display at Missouri Civil War Museum

The front of the Civil War Museum

Grave yard at the Civil War Museum

People looking for diamonds at Crater of Diamond State Park

Sign when you enter the park

Sign when you enter the diamond park

Sign welcoming you to Fossil Flats Trail

A rock flat on Fossil Flats Trail

Expenses

Post Cost (Food) -

• Salad Supplies - $20. 34
• Sweet Potatoes - $6.82
• Caned Soups/Chilies - $23.64
• Oats - $4.35
• Freeze dried berries - $20.50
• Chia - $10.62
• Fruit for snacks - $14.56
• Trail Mix - $21.78
• Total Food Amount - $122.61

June 1st -

• Gas - $27.37
• Motel 6- $50
• Total - $77.37

June 2nd - 

• Gas - $23.32
• Motel 8 - $67
• Leavenworth Fort - $0
• Total - $90.32

June 3rd - 

• Gas - $0
• Motel 6 - $50
• Fort Hartsuff - $2 parking fee
• Total - $52

June 4th - 

• Gas - $22.59
• Motel 6 - $50
• Fort Madison - $8
• Missouri Civil War Museum - $7
• Total - $87.59

 June 5th - 

• Gas - $18.86
• Motel 6: $50
• Fort/Court House Visit - $0
• Total - $68.86

June 6th -

• Gas - $0 
• Motel 6 - $50
• Fort Smith - $7
• Total - $57

June 7th - 

• Gas - $26.73
• Crater of Diamonds Park - $10
• Total - $36.73

The total amount spent on this trip was $592.48.

Fort Coffee

Historical Photo Representation of the fort.

        In 1834 Fort Coffee was established on the south bank of Arkansas by soldiers of the Seventh Infantry and Captain John Stewart. The purpose of this Fort was to protect the Choctaw. It was also used to keep liquor from Arkansas from entering Indian Territory. In 1835 and 1836 the Fort was used during the Texas revolution as an armory for the Arkansas militia. This fort was not built very well, because of this the Fort was abandoned in 1838. After the fort had been abandoned by the army the Choctaw Nation acquired it. They turned the building into the Fort Coffee Academy for Boys, this school was run by Methodist ministers. During the civil war the school was closed and Fort Coffee was occupied by the Confederate Choctaw troops. In 1863 Union soldiers captured these buildings and burned them. 
         Fort Coffee was named after General John Coffee of Tennessee. John Coffee had many jobs his life, he had been a frontier merchant, land agent and locator, Indian fighter, surveyor, and land inspector. John Coffee was a good friend and business partner to Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson was such a public figure that people like John Coffee were never recognized. Historians are also still unclear about John Coffee's place because they still do not totally understand the operation of land in the Old Southwest and his connections of being a surveyor and a land speculator.

Plaque representing Fort Coffee 

   

Fort Leavenworth

        Still active, Fort Leavenworth remains the oldest active Army post on the Mississippi river. It is also the first building in Kansas territory. The fort has been providing over 170 years of service for our military. Another name for the Fort is Cantonment Leavenworth, a man named Henry Leavenworth had established this Fort on May 8th 1827. This Fort was began as a quartermaster depot, arsenal and troop post. It also protected  the fur trade on the Santa Fe Trail. In 1829 the people had to evacuate the fort. Kickapoo Indians used the fort until 1829. After 1832 this Fort Leavenworth had become a destination for soldiers, surveyors and settlers that were passing through to the west. They had military expeditions in 1857-1858 that brought Mormon into Utah. This fort has a long rich history that runs through the Civil War and into the current day.

Front of Fort Leavenworth

         The creator of Fort Leavenworth - Henry Leavenworth - was a very educated man. He was born in 1783 and became a lawyer before entering the army. He was the colonel of the 25th U.S infantry. After he had gone to Prairie du Chien as an Indian agent he was made lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Infantry. In 1833 after the building of Fort Leavenworth he had received the rank brigadier-general. In 1834 he was commanding an expedition to create relationships between the U.S and the Comanche, Kiowa, and Wichita nations. During this exposition he died.

Sign marking the fort

Fort Hartsuff

        On September 5, 1874 "Post on the North Fork of the Loup River" was established, the North Loop Valley area had provided a route for the Sioux raids on the Pawnee. In 1874 the settlers requested military protection. This is why the post was originally built on the Loup River. One month later the post was renamed Fort Hartsuff in honor of Major General George L. Hartsuff. The fort was the center of social life. They distributed supplies for the valley and helped people survive the drought and the grasshopper invasions. In 1876 the fort had its first major military battle, Battle of the Blow Out. A group of Sioux had came in contact with troops in commanded by Lieutenant Heyl. On May first 1881 the fort was abandoned. 
        General George Lucas Hartsuff had been a General for Ohio and a Chief of Staff  in Virginia before becoming a major general. His job was to command all Union forces on the Bermuda Hundred. But before that Hartsuff had been put in charge of the 4th U.S Artillery in Texas where he fell sick with Yellow Fever. After he recovered he was sent to Fort Myers Florida to send troops into the Seminole territory. During this trip he got shot in the chest. The bullet was never removed so he lived with it. This is only one example of one of his many adventures in his life, he conducted many. He also got sick or injured many times and recovered. When he retired he died from Pneumonia.

One of their daily reenactments

Man reading a historical marker

Fort Madison

         Fort Madison was one of the first forts built along the Mississippi River. This fort was one of three that was established to control our new Louisiana territories. The fort controlled trade from the Native Americans. This fort was built in bad area. Enemy had an open range to fire at the fort. Since the beginning the fort had been attacked by tribes like the Sauk. When troops attempted to leave the fort they were attacked by the Sauk. In 1809 the only thing that stopped them from storming the fort was a threat from cannon fire, they really disliked the fort. They made many improvements to the fort over the year including adding blockades to prevent attacks. These did not work because in 1812 the fort was attacked again, during this attack the fort had nearly been overrun. The only thing that stopped further damage of the fort was a cannon fire that destroyed one of the Indians positions. During the War of 1812 attacks on troops outside of the fort led to another attack.  The troops intentionally burned outer fort buildings so the Indians could not siege control of them. Eventually U.S troops abandoned the fort and burned it as they left. 

Back of the fort and a cannon

          The fort was originally named Fort Belle View but was changed to Fort Madison after out fourth president James Madison. James Madison was also a founding father of the U.S. He advocated for a strong government and composed the first drafts of the U.S constitution. In 1792 Madison and Jefferson founded the Democratic-Republican Party. Madison served as Secretary of State under Jefferson. During Madison presidency he had led us into the War of 1812. After his two terms in the White House he retired to his Virginia plantation.

Sign leading up to the fort

Fort Cap au Gris

        In 1813 Fort Cap au Gris was built as a temporary fort near Troy, Missouri. This fort was built in order for troops to observe Indian movement along the Mississippi River. After the defeat at Fort Johnson Zachary Taylor had commanded his troops to located to Cap au Gris in 1814. The official end of the War of 1812 was fought near that fort. The battle was called The Battle of the Sink Hole. This battle was fought near the Cuivre River. This battle was started by an ambush of Sac Indians against a group of rangers. As time went on after the war was over and the fort was burnt a little town was built up around the location. The war ended March 23, 1815.
         Zachary Taylor  had commanded troops in the 1812 war. He was in the Black Hawk War and the Second Seminole War. He also served in the Mexican War in 1846. In 1848 he was elected president of the United States.In June 1850 he got ill and died.

Painting of Zachary Taylor

Fort Smith

          In 1817 Fort Smith was built in order to maintain peace between the Osage and Cherokee Indians and was named after General Thomas Smith. Fort Smith had become a very important place for supplies for the U.S army. In 1849 a small village had started to grow around the fort because of the people headed to California during the gold rush. In the beginning of the Civil War the confederates held the fort. By 1863 the Union Army had seized it and the federal army held it for the rest of the war.  After the Civil War outlaws had made their way to the fort and terrorized the peaceful Indian nations. This became an overwhelming factor and they needed to name a judge. This judge was Judge Parker, he was the judge for the western district of Arkansas. 

One of the side buildings and a carriage

Main Fort Smith building

           Judge Isaac Parker was known as the "Hanging Judge", he ruled over the Indian Territory. That area was full of horse thieves, whiskey peddlers and bandits. He was born in Ohio on October 15, 1838. He helped on his family farm and attended primary school. When he was 17 years old he entered a apprenticeship to learn to study law. In 1859 he was able to pass the Ohio Bar Exam, he was 21. In 1861 he started working at Municipal and county criminal courts. 

June 7th

Day 7, my final travel day! I left the motel after my meal of oats. I had to stop for gas, I needed to fill up 11 gallons of my tank and it cost me $26.73. Back on the road! I will be making a 2 hour and 46 minute trek to have some fun searching for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park. The park fee to look for diamonds is $10. I arrived at the park at 9:46 am. I searched until 12 am for diamonds, then I took a lunch break at there near by rest area just steps away from the field. I did not leave empty handed,  but I did leave the park at 12:30 because it would take me 8 hours to get back home. It is now 8:30 pm and I have arrived at my house.  

June 6th

Today's trip is to Fort Smith  in Arkansas. It will take 3 hours and 15 minutes. I ate my oats and got n the road by 7 in the morning. I arrived at Fort Smith. The cost was $7 for one week, I will only be staying a day here though. It is about 10:30 am, I bought the ticket and was ready to explore. Along with just viewing the grounds I was able to enter the barracks and the courthouse building. This took me a good three hours of taking my time reading every bit of information I could.

It was now 1:30 and I was done viewing the Fort. This trip was a very inspiring experience, I learned so much about our past military and the history of our quarrels. I then drove about 2 hours to get to Fossil Flats Trailhead  to have a late lunch around 3:30 (salad, sweet potato). Around 5 I drove another 2 hours back to the Motel 6 that I would be staying the night at. It is now 7 pm, I will eat my soup and go to bed.  My tank had 314 miles left, I drove 300 miles today, I will need to fill up before I get on the road tomorrow. 

June 5th

This morning I hopped out of bed, ate my oats and hit the road (by 7). I filled up my tank the rest of the way, 8.2 gallons which came to $18.86. I drove the short 37 minute drive up to Fort Cap Au Gris. This fort no longer exists in its self but a town has been built around it. I visited the location of the 'used to be' fort. The fort no longer exists as a building because it was burned down in 1813. The location of the fort is where the current town of Cap Au Gris. I am now going to visit the Lincoln County Court House that was founded in 1818. It took me 28 minutes to drive there. I walked around and took photographs of this beautiful building for 20 minutes. Then I went to go on a nice walk at  Cuivre River State Park for a couple hours. I stopped and found a place to eat in the forest to have my lunch around 11 am. I left and drove 2 hours and 30 minutes to another motel to stay the night. It was 2:30 when I arrived at the Motel 6. I chose to rest and have dinner instead of going to another destination, today was busy. My total trip for today was 4 hours and 43 minutes long and a total of 281 miles. I had 314 miles of gas left from that day.

June 4th

Hello again! I have woken up and made my berry chia oats and ate. I left at 7 to fill up my tank 9.82 witch is $22.59. I then continue on my 2 hour and 44 minute drive to Fort Madison. When I arrive at Fort Madison I have to pay an eight dollar admissions fee. I spent 2 hours at the fort watching musket demonstrations and other acts of life around during the time period that the fort was in action. I then drive a few minutes over to Wilson Lake Park to eat my lunch (Salad and Sweet Potato). After an hour of relaxed eating and watching boats it was about 1: 30 in the afternoon. I chose to get back on the road to head into Missouri to find a place to rest. I drove past Fort Madison, tomorrows destination, this was about a 2 hour and 40 minute drive. It was now around 3:10. I put my stuff at the motel then I went on another small adventure.I drove 28 minutes to the Missouri Civil War museum. The admission fee was $7, the museum closes at 5, I spent about an hour and 30 minutes walking around. I left at 4:45 and went back to the hotel for the night. My total travel time was 6 hours and 48 minutes and I drove a total of 410 miles. That night I heated up a bowl of bean chili and rested. 

June 3rd

My stay at the Motel 8 was fine, as it is rated a 3.5 on Google. I have a 3 hour and 12 minute drive to Fort Hartsuff and I am ecstatic. I finished my oatmeal and packed up again to get on the road by 7. Three hours later I am at the fort. The price to park at the location is $2 and one may have a pass to visit the forts in Nebraska, which I have obtained. I spent about two hours at the fort educating myself on historical events. I left the fort building and found a field to rest and have, again, salad and sweet potato. Afterwards it was around 1 in the afternoon, its time to start heading to my next destination. I am taking the five hour drive over to De Moines Iowa to stay at a Motel 6. The travel today is 491 miles. I have 104 miles left in my tank after the trip, I will fill up again when I start going on my way to Fort Madison. 

June 2nd

After I woke up at the Motel 6 I made my oats and got back on the road to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas by 7 in the morning. I stopped at the first gas station I found to fill the tank back up, I only had 1.76 gallons left. The price of the gas was $23.32 for that trip. The trip will take about 5:20  hours. I stopped at Overland Park for 30 minutes to eat my lunch, a salad and a sweet potato and then got back on the road to complete the last hour to the fort. When I got to the fort it was 1pm, I got stuck in about 10 minutes of traffic on my way from the park to the fort. When I got to the fort I found a parking space and strolled into the Fort. I learned much about this attraction, including how it was used in the military. It was 3pm and it was time to get back on the road. I drove another 3 miles to the Motel 8 and spent the night in Gretna, Nebraska. I heated up my soup, ate and went to sleep. This day of driving was a total of 509 miles and 8 hours and six minutes. I have 86 miles of gas left in the tank. 

June 1st

This is an early morning start, driving at 7 am, for this trip to Oklahoma. I will be visiting Fort Coffee for the day. Before I leave the house I will pack my pre-prepared foods for the trip. These include snacks, nuts, fruits, hummus and carrots, lunch items, pre-made salads with dressings, sweet potatoes, dinner items, soups, chili, and pasta. For breakfast, I have prepared portions for overnight oats which include - freeze-dried fruits, chia seeds, and oats. My car currently has a full tank of gas and is ready to go! This trip is only 507 miles and a single tank of gas is suffice leaving enough gas to travel 88 more miles. The initial price for gas is $27.37. After the 7.5 hour trip the time is 2:30, this leaves me 3 hours to walk around the Fort. As I walked around Fort Coffee I was intrigued by its deep history. It is now 5:30 and its time to make my way to the motel, I am staying at the motel six that is only about 20 minutes down the road from the fort.

Map

• To the left is the route that I will be taking, starting on June 1, 2017 - June 10, 2017. 
• Below the map is the list of historical attractions that I will stop at.
• The total trip will be done without tolls and will take about 44 hours without stops. 
• Other destinations like motels, food, and entertainment will be described in the day's blog entry.
• In the end it did take 49 hour and 30 minutes.
  
  
  
  

Car and Milage

I will be driving a 2017 Kia Niro FE. The car has a 11.9 gallon tank and gets 50 miles to the gallon and 595 miles per gallon. This trip is 2,755 miles long. The estimated total gas price will be $126.73 at $2.30 a gallon.