Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History/Grand Duke Alexis

Alexis, Grand Duke.—Many people may not know that Kansas was once honored by a visit from royalty. In Nov., 1871, Alexander II, at that time czar of Russia, sent his third son, Grand Duke Alexis, as a special embassador to President Grant and the people of the United States with congratulations on the outcome of the Civil war. With a desire to see something of the country, the grand duke spent a portion of Jan., 1872, with some army officers and plainsmen in roughing it through Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. The duke's desire was to engage in a buffalo hunt. Accordingly he was met by Gen. Custer and conducted to a camp on Red Willow creek, where it was supposed buffalo could be found. Learning that a large herd of buffalo had been seen in the vicinity of Kit Carson, 130 miles east of Denver, the party took a train at Fort Wallace, Kan., and went there. The troop horses used by the hunting party were unused to the bison and almost stampeded when they came within sight of the herd, causing several ludicrous and some slightly serious accidents. The grand duke has been described as “modest, good-humored and companionable,” and his good humor never showed to better advantage than in that buffalo hunt. After a ball at Denver, given in his honor, the royal party left on a special train for the east. A short stop was made at Topeka, where the grand duke was officially received by Gov. Harvey and the legislature, which was then in session, after which there was an informal reception.