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Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Colorado
Location
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is located in southeastern Colorado, near the town of La Junta. The town lies at the junction of US50 and US350, about sixty-five miles east-south-east of Pueblo. From La Junta, take Colorado State Highway 109 North across the Arkansas River, then shortly turn right onto Colorado State Highway 194 East. The site lies just south of this road and just north of the Arkansas River, about eight miles from La Junta.
Description
In 1833 Charles and William Bent and Ceran St Vrain built their fort to act as a trading post on the northern route of the Santa Fe Trail.
The fort's location was convenient not only for customers, the travellers on the Santa Fe Trail and the Arkansas River - but also for suppliers, fur trappers in the Rocky Mountains and the Arapahoe, Cheyenne and Kiowa indians.
The National Historic Site stands at the same place and is a reconstruction of the original fort, built using the same design, materials and construction methods.
The National Historic Site has guided tours, self-guiding tours and various demonstrations (during spring, summer and autumn only).
Entrance Fee
$2 per person (1996).
Additional Information About Ceran St Vrain
I received the following interesting information from "Emma Peel" (presumably a pseudonym):
I work for the St Vrain descendants in Missouri, New Mexico, Colorado and Missouri. Ceran was the money guy, and without him there would have been no Bent's Fort. He was also a best buddy of Kit Carson. He was the grandson of a French aristocrat who fled France during the Revolution (Marquis Dehault DeLassus DeLuziere). Ceran's uncle was also the last governor of the northern Louisiana territories. I'm
writing a book about the family, and always thought Ceran got the short end of the stick.
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As with all the other pages on this personal web site, all the information on this page is solely the opinion of the author, who has no connection whatsoever with any of the companies and organisations mentioned other than as an actual or potential customer.
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Most recently modified 28-Jan-00