INTERIOR OF BENT'S FORT ON THE SANTA FE TRAIL
MODEL IN COLORADO STATE MUSEUM, DENVER
ךררררוה
Nusitan
TL
BENT'S FORT, MOST IMPORTANT FUR TRADE POST OF
THE SOUTHWEST, WAS COMPLETED BY BENT AND ST. VRAIN
IN 1832. LOCATED ON THE ARKANSAS RIVER, NEAR PRESENT
LA JUNTA, COLORADO, IT RECEIVED BEAVER SKINS FROM
THE MOUNTAINS, BUFFALO ROBES FROM THE PLAINŞ, AND
PARTICIPATED IN THE CARAVAN TRAFFIC OVER THE SANTA
LOOPHOLES FOR MUSKETRY AND CANNON.
WITHIN THE
FORT AND BACKED AGAINST THE OUTER WALL WERE LOW
ROOMS USED FOR WAREHOUSES AND LIVING QUARTERS.
LIFE ABOUT THE FORT A HUNDRED YEARS AGO WAS PIC-
TURESQUE. BRONZED AND BEARDED TRAPPERS IN FRINGED
BUCKSKIN SUITS, WITH INDIAN WIVES IN BEADED DEER-
FE TRAIL.
SKIN MADE THIS THEIR HOME. MEXICAN MESTIZOS, FRENCH
CANADIANS AND PARTIES OF ARAPAHOES AND CHEYENNES
CAME HERE TO TRADE. THE MINIATURE MODEL PICTURED
HERE SHOWS THE FORT IN THE 1840s.
THE FORT WAS BUILT OF LARGE GRAY ADOBES, WITH
WALLS T WO TO FOUR FEET THICK AND FIFTEEN FEET HIGH.
BASTIONS PROJECTING FROM TWO DIAGONAL CORNERS HAD
