Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

National Treasure Visited #2 on Shea’s Ultimate American Quest
First Experienced During Quest On: September 26, 2023

Bent’s Old Fort allowed me to tick off my first National Historic Site and begin exploring sites on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. Built in 1833 by William and Charles Bent, the fort was a key trading hub along the Santa Fe Trail. It served as a vital center for trade between American settlers, Native American tribes (especially the Cheyenne and Arapaho), and Mexican traders.

The fort was destroyed in 1849, but the National Park Service reconstructed the fort based on detailed sketches and architectural drawings of the fort’s layout by Lieutenant James Abert of the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers. In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, Abert fell ill and was cared for at Bent’s Old Fort.

The fort was constructed using adobe bricks, giving it a distinctive Southwestern appearance. It features a central courtyard, trading rooms, and living quarters. Today, the fort has been fully reconstructed to reflect its original design. Visitors can explore the fort’s rooms, watch historical reenactments, and learn about frontier life through ranger-led tours and educational programs.

Bent's Old Fort, a historic site, features tan adobe walls and a round tower beneath a clear blue sky. An American flag waves atop the central building, with sparse grass, dirt, and distant trees surrounding the iconic fort.

Shea's Videos and Travel Journal Entries Tagged with Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

A paved path leads to Bent's Old Fort, a large, rectangular adobe structure with high tan walls and small windows. A flag flies over the entrance, while open grass fields and trees surround the fort under a clear blue sky.
Bent’s Old Fort
September 26, 2023
I spent a few hours wandering this amazing national Park service. Reconstruction was very educational and fascinating. Absolutely worth the visit.
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A large stone archway with a sign reading "BENT'S OLD FORT" stands beside a paved path. Behind it, there are grassy fields, wooden fences, a memorial plaque, and trees under a clear blue sky.
A sunlit adobe fort courtyard with wooden beams, benches, and tables evokes the historic charm of Bent's Old Fort. One-story tan plaster buildings surround the space; stairs lead to the dirt ground, with clear skies and distant trees beyond the walls.
A rustic dining room at this Colorado historic site features exposed beams, wooden furniture, and a large red table with black chairs. Candlesticks adorn the table, a stove sits in the corner, and stairs lead upward as at Bent’s Old Fort.
A rustic trading post interior, inspired by Bent's Old Fort, with wooden counters draped in animal pelts. Behind the counter are shelves of goods—fabrics, pottery, ropes. Furs hang on the wall as natural light and lanterns illuminate the space.
A rustic room reminiscent of Bent's Old Fort, with fur rugs on the floor, a wooden chair, chest, fireplace, woodpile, and various tools and tack hanging on the walls—chains and pots evoke an authentic old frontier or pioneer dwelling.
A rustic blacksmith’s workshop, inspired by Bent's Old Fort, features a wooden workbench covered in tools, hammers, and an open book. Shelves above hold more tools and lanterns; below are boxes and metal parts, with a forge visible to the right.
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