Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway - Colorado
Bent's Old Fort, CO

William and Charles Bent and Ceran St. Vrain built the original Bent's Fort in 1833. This adobe fort was built to trade with the plains Indians and trappers in the area. Trading became so successful that additional forts were built to the north and south. This fort was one of the only major permanent white settlements along the Santa Fe Trail. Because of this, the fort provided many explorers, adventurers, and the US Army with supplies, repairs, food, and water. During the Mexican-American war in 1846, the fort was the staging area for Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny's "Army of the West." The fort was later abandoned in 1849 because of disease and various disasters. The fort was recreated using diaries, paintings, archaeological excavations, and original sketches.