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In 1833, brothers William and Charles Bent and Ceran St. Vrain built a trading post on the Santa Fe Trail that led from Missouri to Mexico. Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site was built to enable fur trade between settlers, travelers, and the Arapaho and Cheyenne Indians, who came peacefully to exchange buffalo robes for other goods.
Bent’s Old Fort had an important secondary role as the only permanent settlement on the Santa Fe Trail, and it was a godsend for travelers and soldiers who could stop for repairs, replenish their supplies, and enjoy good food, water, and company.
Disaster and disease closed the fort in 1849; reconstruction began in 1876, and guided tours of the fort are a must for families and history buffs.
35110 Highway 194 East, La Junta, Colorado 81050, Phone: 719-383-5010
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