Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

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CONTENTS

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

William and Charles Bent, along with Ceran St. Vrain, built the original fort on this site in 1833 to trade with plains Indians and trappers. The adobe fort quickly became the center of the Bent, St.Vrain Company's expanding trade empire that included Fort St.Vrain to the north and Fort Adobe to the south, along with company stores in Mexico at Taos and Santa Fe. The primary trade was with the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians for buffalo robes. For much of its 16-year history, the fort was the only major permanent white settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and the Mexican settlements. The fort provided explorers, adventurers, and the U.S. Army a place to get needed supplies, wagon repairs, livestock, good food, water and company, rest and protection in this vast "Great American Desert." During the war with Mexico in 1846, the fort became a staging area for Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny's "Army of the West". Disasters and disease caused the fort's abandonment in 1849. Archeological excavations and original sketches, paintings and diaries were used in the fort's reconstruction in 1976.

IN DEPTH

Just For Kids Traveling Trunks The traveling trunk serves as a mini-museum helping bring history alive in the classroom. The trunk contains a variety of hands-on objects, books, videos, and a resource guide...read more

In A Nutshell Frequently Asked Questions Why was the Park established? Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site basic purpose is defined in the Act of June 3, 1960 as being "...for the purpose of...read more

At A Glance Contact Us By Mail 35110 Highway 194 East La Junta, CO 81050-9523 By Phone Visitor Information 719-383-5010 By...read more

Park Regulations & Safety Pests With the new threat of West Nile virus rapidly spreading west, and the annual concern of Sin Nombre Hanta virus, the park has established safety procedures utilizing Integrated Pest Management techniques to...read more

Things To Do Professional Development Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site will host an instructional "Living History Encampment" June 5 -8, 2008. This popular living history event will provide participants the unique opportunity...read more

Plants Prairies and Grasslands The park is situated on a series of low benches along the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado. It is located on the western edge of the Great Plains...read more

Animals Birds To date ninety-nine species of birds have been documented at the site. Great horned owls, Wild turkeys, Northern bobwhite, and Red-headed woodpeckers are commonly seen or heard along the river in the...read more

Geology Rivers and Streams The Arkansas River is an alluvial, sand-bed, perennially flowing river. The river gradient is well defined and averages about 6.7 feet per mile through the fort reach....read more

History History & Culture William and Charles Bent, along with Ceran St. Vrain, built the original fort on this site in 1833 to trade with plains Indians and trappers. The adobe...read more

Preservation Bookstore The Trade Goods and Book Store at Bent's Old Fort offers many of the same trade goods that were exchanged for bison robes and other peltries at the fort...read more

POINTS OF INTEREST