Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Sand Creek Massacre NHS, and La Junta, CO

 

 (Entrance to the fort)

Situated along the Old Santa Fe Trail, in present day La Junta, Colorado, is a reconstructed trading post where at one time mountain men, various Indigenous tribes, Mexicans, and Anglos converged. Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site was the main trading grounds for the Bent, St. Vrain Co., it was a multi-cultural hub during the mid-1800s and not uncommon to hear a handful of different languages spoken on the property. During its prime, the dealings at the fort actually impacted global economics. Bent’s Old Fort represents a unique time in borderlands and American West history.

We visited for the first time during their limited candlelight tours, which usually take place a couple of weekends in December. (Tickets are required). During this special tour, volunteer living history reenactors help to make history come alive. The fort was beautiful by candlelight, as shadows flickered and lurked along the interior/exterior walls. 

                                                        (Interior galley)

(Furs and storage room)

Earlier in the day we visited the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, located in Eads, Colorado (1.5 hours east of Bent's Old Fort). This is a sobering and moving memorial to the Cheyenne and Arapaho individuals who died during the American Indian Wars. Chief Black Kettle flew the American Flag and a white flag, as a sign of peace. However, General Chivington of the 1st Colorado Infantry (Volunteers) and 3rd Regiment of Colorado Cavalry ignored the peace signs, ordering an attack. Most of the casualties were of women, children, and elderly. 

The park is completely an outdoor experience designed to be a walking tour. There is a small mobile unit set up for visitor contact and small bookstore. The park is isolated and remote but honors a significant moment in Colorado history. I'm glad I was finally able to make my way here. 

(Sand Creek Massacre site located in Eads, CO. 

Prepare for a lot of driving but worth it.)

It is a long, dusty drive to see these two sites (we had fun dodging tumbleweeds along the way), so I definitely recommend making an overnight trip. If you want a place to stay not too far from the fort, I suggest KOA Journey in La Junta, CO. It was clean, close, and had an adorable caboose to rent for a night! The interior of the caboose looked practically new and was designed with an eye for detail and an artsy vibe.  

We had so much fun!

(KOA Journey office, La Junta)

(The caboose we stayed in and LOVED)

                                                  

Colorado Historical Sites

Denver was founded amidst the backdrop of the Old West. If you are fascinated with Native American culture, pioneer and mountainman stories, 1800's architecture, gold mining folklore or many other facets of what we have come to call the American West then gallop on over to many of the Denver/front range historical sites and museums. Here is only a sample:

 Historic Houses or Lodges:

  The Four Mile House or The Seventeen Mile House
Discover a couple of special "mile" houses that dotted the dusty trails like that of the Cherokee Trail or Smoky Hill Trail in what is now Denver and Aurora. I have written previously about Denver's oldest house; the Four Mile House. But Seventeen Mile is also now open to the public. Each of these houses served as pit stops for those traveling west toward Denver City in the mid 1800's.

Astor House Museum
The Astor House, built in 1867, was used as a boarding house for miner's and later legislators.

Molly Brown House
 Visit the home of the "unsinkable" Margaret "Molly" Brown

Byer's-Evans House Museum
 Built in 1883, housed prominent Denver family.

Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin
 A Victorian home and cabin in the historic mining town of Leadville, CO.

 The Stanley Hotel
Built in 1909, Freelan Stanley was one of the main financial contributors to the development of Estes Park. His hotel is now famous for ghost activity and a couple of movie productions.

Hiwan Homestead Museum
 A beautiful log lodge built in 1893.

Trujillo Homestead
One of the first permanent Latino settlements in Colorado, built in the mid 1800's.

Historic Forts:

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Bent's fort was at the epicenter of trade along the Sante Fe Trail. Charles Bent acted as a middleman between many Native American tribes and mountainmen/trappers during the early to mid 1800's. Many councils took place at Bent's fort.

Fort Vasquez Museum
A former fur trading post north of Denver.

Ft. Garland Museum and Pike's Stockade
An 1858 fort supervised by Kit Carson.

Regional/Local History Museums:

History Colorado Center

Denver Art Museum
(They have an amazing section on early Native American life, as well as, an intriguing  American West art exhibit).
Lakewood Heritage Center

Littleton History Museum

El Pueblo History Museum

Ute Indian Museum

 Historic Sites:

Sand Creek Massacre Site
A horrific site where hundreds of Native Americans were caught off guard and slaughtered. (No other way to say it). 
Amache Internment Camp
During WW2, many Japanese-Americans were relocated to internment camps to be sure they would not retaliate against the American government during the war. 

 Historic Mining Sites:

 Mollie Kathleen Mine
Argo Mine
Country Boy Mine

 National Parks
 (Remnants of early Native American and/or Ancestral Puebloan life can be seen at many of Colorado's National Parks...here are my favorite in the history category)

Mesa Verde National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Dinosaur National Monument

Historic Towns:
(Most of Colorado's towns are themselves historic sites  but here are some examples)
Black Hawk and Central City
Leadville
Georgetown
Glenwood Springs
Manitou Springs
Idaho Springs
Breckenridge
Cripple Creek
South Park
Silverton

There are many other historic sites, museums and stories to find! Get out and explore! :)