Bent's Old Fort was the only permanent white settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and Santa Fe.
In the 1840s the Arkansas River was the border between territory claimed by the United States and Mexico. Located along the river, Bent's Fort was an adobe trading post on the Santa Fe Trail, where traders, trappers, travelers, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes came together in peaceful terms for trade. Today, a reconstructed fort allows visitors to explore the front line of Westward Expansion.
A new National Parks Service report shows that visitor spending among the four parks within the High Plains Group contributed to 60 jobs and a cumulative economic benefit of $5.3 million.
Beginning July 4th, the public is invited to discover stories from the borderlands along the Arkansas River in the 1800s throughout 2024. “Stories from the Borderlands” is a regular series of programs which will explore the complex histories found at the fort.
From Monday, July 8 through Friday, July 12, 2024, the reconstructed fort at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site will be closed for an asbestos removal project. During this time, park trails and grounds will still be accessible daily from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.