Fort Larned was a complete and authentic army post from the 1860s-1870s on the Santa Fe Trail, and its well-preserved sandstone buildings sheltered troops known as the Guardians of the Santa Fe Trail during the tumultuous Indian Wars era. In central Kansas, winter is often cold and dry, with average daytime highs below 40F (4C), though foehn winds from the Southwest across the Great Plains periodically raise temperatures above 80F (27C). Spring brings unsettled warmer air, higher winds, and severe weather that often lasts through early July. Late summer days hover above 90F (32C), and readings over 100F (38C) are not uncommon. Fall is variable but generally milder, with showers changing to snow and ice later.