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Category
  • National recreation area or facility managed by a federal agency

General Description
    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.

    There is a fee for visiting which is $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for child 6 to 12 years of age with children under 6 years of age free. Federal passports are honored. Hours of operation are 8:00 Am to 5:30 PM June through August and 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM September through May. No reservations are necessary for guided tours in the summer. Summer tours start at 9:30, 11:00 AM, and 1:00, 2:30 PM. Winter tours (September through May) start at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM. Winter group tours can be reserved by calling (719) 383-5026.


Accessibility Features General Accessibility Features
  • Accessible bathrooms
Amenities and Lodging
  • No accessible amenities and lodging
Information and Interpretation Features
  • No accessible information and interpretation

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