As a child, I remember spending many summers all around Colorado camping, hiking, fishing, and exploring historical sites. None of them compare to Bents Old Fort, it was like a second home to our family. 
The fort was built as a trading post in 1833 by Charles and William Bent in a partnership with Ceran St. Vrain and then abandoned by 1849. The structure was often described as "a castle on the plains", Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. (n.d.). Southeast Colorado Travel and Tourism.(2012) The fort played a historical roll as noted here, "For much of its 16-year history, the adobe fort was the only major permanent white settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and the Mexican settlements around Santa Fe. The fort provided explorers, adventurers, and the U.S. Army a place to get needed supplies, wagon repairs, livestock, good food, water, camaraderie, rest and protection in the vast "Great American Desert". The famous Western scout Kit Carson was a hunter for the fort from 1831 to 1842. During the war with Mexico in 1846, the fort became a staging area for Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny's "Army of the West"." Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site - Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. (2012)  Unfortunately after it was abandoned in 1849 the fort was allowed to fall to complete ruin, the last traces of its walls vanishing as the adobe bricks were scavenged to build other structures in the area. Thus leaving it to fade into the past just a trace of its former outline in the earth. The fort would be just a shadow of a memory mentioned in old trading journals and soldier reports except for the local DAR (Daughters the of American Revolution) and their desire to preserve the history of their heritage. In pursuing this dream these women managed to get the sites significance of the role the fort played for travelers on the Santa Fe trail and in the development of the surrounding area.

Then in 1920 the women were granted 4.5 acres that included the forts original foundations. Bent's Old Fort. Home. Retrieved (2012) "The State of Colorado purchased the property in 1954 for the Colorado Historical Society. That same year the Historical Society funded a 42 day archaeological investigation of the site. The National Park Service became interested in the site in 1957, recognizing the importance of the site in association with the period of westward expansion. On June 3, 1960, President Dwight D Eisenhower signed the legislation that created the Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site." The DAR then pursued the matter until," Eventually a decision to rebuild was reached and President Gerald R. Ford signed legislation authorizing reconstruction on August 31, 1974." Bent's Old Fort. Home. Retrieved (2012) And then it is recorded that, "Construction work commenced on May 27th, 1975 on the exact same floor plan and on exactly the same site occupied by the original structure." Bent's Old Fort. Home. Retrieved (2012) Then it is noted "The reconstruction effort was completed and the fort was opened to the public on July 25, 1976."Bent's Old Fort. Home. Retrieved (2012) finally the fort was opened to visitors. 
I can't remember how old I was on the first visit, but I remember many happy summers there. My grandmother, Marjorie Allen White, was there when the DAR preformed the ground breaking in 1975. Due to her influence my sisters and cousins were involved in many reenactments and parade floats done in honor of our settlers on Old Settlers Day. The participation became paramount to me as I worked hard to win the coveted Old Bents Fort coin awarded yearly to the winner of most original costume. It has continued to be very important to me and I continue to keep it as one of my most valued possessions along with the apron from my costume. 

As all things do, time changed me in more ways then one, including living far away from Bents Old Fort. I have forayed to the site several times taking back my children and eventually my grandchildren. It is a shade in my past that has cast a long shadow over my life. When I visit I can hear the echos of myself, cousins, sisters, mother, and grandmother as we laughed, played, ran, and argued our way around the fort, its inhabitants, and animals. It is the first place I ever baked in an adobe oven, killed and plucked a chicken and saw a rattlesnake. We used to hide in the saloon behind the bar playing checkers as people visited the site, confident never to be caught in our special hiding spot.
My last visit was during the one hundred year celebration and much is the same, yet so much has changed.....they discovered in archives that the water cistern wasn't historically accurate so much to my chagrin they moved it. They now have an actual gift shop instead of just the trading store, and they do not give out Old Bents Fort money anymore to anyone. I also found out they have new security on my last visit as I leaned over the counter top in the gun shop to show something to my children and the alarm went off. It was a little embarrassing as I have moved away and no one even remembers my family members and myself being there. It is run exclusively by the parks service now, and they hold no special favors for us anymore.
So if you are looking for an area in Colorado full of history and want to learn more about the Santa Fe Trail maybe you should stop by.

There are story times in the summer in an Indian T.P., rooms to explore as you hear the stories of the soldiers and men that came before, and many things to learn and see at the blacksmith shop as he works his forge.  They stay open year round now and offer special tours as well as special visits for special groups, just click on the Explore South East Colorado and National Parks link below for hours, costs, and other  information.

There are hotels in La Junta that would be happy for your patronage and other sites to see in the local area, please visit the La Junta Chamber of Commerce link below.

Explore South East Colorado:
http://www.exploresoutheastcolorado.com/bentsfort.htm

National Parks Service:
http://www.nps.gov/beol/index.htm

La Junta Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.lajuntachamber.com/index.html

References

1880s, t., materials, s. a., &  , r. (n.d.). Bent's Old Fort. Home. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from http://bofha.org/bentsfort.html

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. (n.d.). Southeast Colorado Travel and Tourism. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from http://www.exploresoutheastcolorado.com/bentsfort.htm

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site - Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. (n.d.). U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from http://www.nps.gov/beol/index.htm

 

 

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