MEDICINE LODGE, KANSAS —

WHERE FIVE NATIONS STILL GATHER.

History. Heritage. Heart of the Gypsum Hills.

A small Kansas town carrying one of the most significant moments in American frontier history — and still telling the story.

Two black chevron icons, one pointing down above one pointing up, on a white background

THE PEACE TREATY OF 1867 —

WHERE FIVE NATIONS STILL GATHER

On October 21, 1867, on the banks of Medicine Lodge Creek, leaders of the Kiowa, Comanche, Kiowa-Apache, Cheyenne, and Arapaho nations signed the landmark Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty with the United States government — one of the most consequential agreements in the history of the American West. Today, Medicine Lodge honors this moment every three years with the Peace Treaty Pageant, a living history performance that draws thousands to the same ground where history was made.

The story of Medicine Lodge is not confined to textbooks. It lives in the land, the people, and the ceremonies still held here. To visit is to stand where nations once gathered, and to understand what it means for a place to carry that weight with pride.

Cowboys on horseback in a grassy field at sunset with rolling hills in the background

SIGNATURE ATTRACTIONS —

Medicine Lodge's Most Iconic Destinations

From frontier stockades to scenic Gypsum Hills drives, Medicine Lodge rewards every curious traveler with history, beauty, and stories that linger long after you leave.

Quiet small-town main street with brick road, storefronts, and streetlamps under a blue sky.

Downtown Medicine Lodge

The heart of the community, featuring historic architecture, locally owned businesses, colorful murals, and streets that celebrate the town’s rich frontier heritage.

Veterans Memorial with flags and stone sign in a landscaped park

Veterans Memorial

A tribute honoring local military veterans, featuring memorial walls, flags, and a place for reflection.

Wooden lodge sign reading “Stockade” beside a rustic log-fence entrance under a blue sky

Stockade Museum

Step inside a full-scale replica frontier stockade and explore Medicine Lodge's pioneer past through artifacts, tools, and reconstructed frontier life. One of the most authentic Old West museum experiences in Kansas.

White teepee on a winding pink path at sunset in a park

Peace Treaty Site & Pageant Grounds

Stand on the very ground where five Native American nations and the U.S. government signed the historic 1867 Peace Treaty. Every three years, thousands gather here for the renowned Peace Treaty Pageant.

White house with front porch, small lawn, sidewalk, and a street sign on a sunny corner lot.

Carry A. Nation Home

Tour the preserved home of one of America's most legendary activists. Carry A. Nation lived and launched her famous temperance crusade from this Medicine Lodge house — a must-see for history enthusiasts.

Sunlit rocky hillside overlooking a valley at sunset with blue sky and scattered clouds

Gypsum Hills Scenic Drive

One of Kansas's most dramatic and unexpected landscapes unfolds along this iconic scenic drive. Red rock formations, cedar breaks, and panoramic plains vistas make the Gypsum Hills one of the region's great road trip rewards.

Wooded lakeside park entrance with a dirt path and a brown sign at right

Barber State Fishing Lake

A peaceful recreational lake offering fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, and beautiful Kansas sunsets.

Colorful mural on a brick wall reading “Norton, Kansas,” beside a red street and sidewalk.

Medicine Lodge Mural 

A colorful downtown mural celebrating the region’s ranching heritage, prairie landscapes, oil industry, and community spirit.

LOCAL BUSINESSES —

Eat, Stay & Shop in Medicine Lodge

Support the local makers, restaurateurs, and innkeepers who give Medicine Lodge its character. Browse the directory for full hours, menus, and directions.

Woman sitting at a diner counter with coffee cups and dessert in a cozy café

Main Street Kitchen

RESTAURANT Home-cooked comfort food served with genuine Kansas hospitality — the kind of place where everyone knows your name and the coffee never runs out. 123 Main St, Medicine Lodge, KS · (620) 555-0101
VIEW PROFILE —
Storefront of KONASS bakery with large windows and pastries displayed in a brick building on a sunny street

Gypsum Hills General

RETAIL A curated collection of locally made goods, regional gifts, and artisan finds — the perfect stop for a one-of-a-kind Kansas keepsake. 210 Main St, Medicine Lodge, KS · (620) 555-0202
VIEW PROFILE —
Small beige house with a porch, white railings, and rocking chairs in a rural field at sunset

Prairie Rest Inn

LODGING A comfortable, welcoming base camp for your Medicine Lodge adventure — clean rooms, friendly hosts, and a peaceful plains setting just minutes from the historic district. 400 W Highway 160, Medicine Lodge, KS · (620) 555-0303
VIEW PROFILE —

Barber County Hardware

SERVICES Trusted local expertise for every project — from farm repairs to home improvements, this family-run shop has served Medicine Lodge for generations. 518 S Main St, Medicine Lodge, KS · (620) 555-0404
VIEW PROFILE —

Creek Side Honey Co.

AGRICULTURE Pure Kansas wildflower honey and farm-direct goods harvested from the Gypsum Hills — a true taste of the land that surrounds Medicine Lodge. Rural Route 2, Medicine Lodge, KS · (620) 555-0505
VIEW PROFILE —

Main Street Kitchen

RESTAURANT Home-cooked comfort food served with genuine Kansas hospitality — the kind of place where everyone knows your name and the coffee never runs out. 123 Main St, Medicine Lodge, KS · (620) 555-0101
VIEW PROFILE —

Gypsum Hills General

RETAIL A curated collection of locally made goods, regional gifts, and artisan finds — the perfect stop for a one-of-a-kind Kansas keepsake. 210 Main St, Medicine Lodge, KS · (620) 555-0202
VIEW PROFILE —

UPCOMING EVENTS —

Mark Your Calendar

Medicine Lodge hosts some of South Central Kansas's most beloved annual events — from the nationally recognized Peace Treaty Pageant to local rodeos, festivals, and community celebrations that bring the whole region together.

People holding lit torches stand in a circle at night around a central open area.

SEPT / Triennial

Peace Treaty Pageant

Medicine Lodge, KS

The nationally acclaimed living history pageant reenacting the 1867 Peace Treaty signing draws thousands to Medicine Lodge every three years for an unforgettable outdoor performance.

Cowboy riding a brown horse kicking up dust in a rodeo arena

JUNE

Medicine Lodge Rodeo

Medicine Lodge, KS

Classic Kansas rodeo action featuring bull riding, barrel racing, and community spirit in one of the region's most spirited annual traditions.

Autumn street fair with vendor tents, hay bales, and people strolling beneath colorful fall trees

OCT

Gypsum Hills Fall Festival

Medicine Lodge, KS

Celebrate the stunning fall colors of the Gypsum Hills with local vendors, live music, artisan crafts, and the warm community spirit that defines Medicine Lodge.

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STORIES FROM MEDICINE LODGE —

The People & Places That Define This Place

Every town has stories worth telling. In Medicine Lodge, they run deep — oral histories, portraits of locals, agricultural legacies, and the living memory of a frontier past. These are a few.

Sepia-toned rural huts by a creek with tall trees and a grassy bank under a cloudy sky

HISTORY

The Day Five Nations Signed

An intimate retelling of the events leading up to the 1867 Peace Treaty signing and what it meant for the people — on all sides — who gathered on this Kansas ground.

American flag hanging on a weathered farmhouse porch with a rocking chair in a rural field

ORAL HISTORIES

Stories My Grandfather Told

Three generations of a Medicine Lodge family share the memories, land, and values that have kept them rooted in the Gypsum Hills for over a century.

Hands crafting leather goods at a wooden workbench with tools and thread spools.

LOCAL MAKERS

Built by Hand in the Hills

Meet the craftspeople and makers who quietly sustain Medicine Lodge's creative spirit, turning local materials and old techniques into objects meant to last.

Yellow combine harvester cutting wheat in a field under a blue sky with clouds

AGRICULTURE

The Land Always Comes Back

A Medicine Lodge farm family reflects on drought, recovery, and why they would never choose to grow roots anywhere else on earth.