Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University stands as a testament to educational pioneering in the American West. Established on the very grounds of the historic Fort Hays, this institution has been dedicated to empowering students and serving its community since its inception. It embodies a rich legacy of adapting and evolving, rooted deeply in the needs of the early settlers it was created to serve.

The university's journey began in 1902 as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School, an extension of what is now Emporia State University. Its original placement on the former military outpost, which closed in 1889, strategically met the critical demand for educational facilities in the burgeoning region. Just two years later, in 1904, the university relocated to its present-day campus, a site still proudly occupying a portion of the original fort's reservation, bridging its past with its dynamic present.

While initially conceived with an agricultural focus, Fort Hays State quickly affirmed its role as a vital normal school, dedicated to training educators. Its commitment to practical education was evident for years, with the University Dairy Unit supplying fresh milk directly to the school cafeteria, a charming detail of its self-sufficiency and community focus. The university has also weathered significant challenges, including the dramatic midnight evacuation of campus during the Great Flood of 1951, demonstrating its resilience and the enduring spirit of its community.