Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

National Historic Site · CO · nps.gov page

A group of visitors stand around a large wooden apparatus in a plaza courtyard. — A park ranger speaks to visitors gathered around the fur press in the plaza of the reconstructed fort.Photo: NPS/D. Ocheltree

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.

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News

NPS seeks public input on future of reconstructed fort at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site 2026-08-18
The National Park Service invites the public to review and comment on four early concepts for the condition and future of the reconstructed fort at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site. The concepts and supporting information are available at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ beolalternatives, and comments will be accepted through October 23.

Photos

Bent's Old Fort with shortgrass prairie in foreground and blue sky and clouds above — For much of its 16-year history, the fort was the only major permanent white settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and the Mexican settlements.Photo: NPS Photo

Wooden boxes and buffalo furs are scattered around a plaza inside an adobe fortification. — Boxes and Furs in the Plaza.Photo: NPS Photo

Bent's Old Fort with shortgrass prairie, tepee and wagon in foreground and blue sky & clouds above — For much of its 16-year history, the fort was the only major permanent white settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and the Mexican settlements.Photo: NPS Photo

bundles of glass trade beads tied together hang from a wooden rafter — Trade Room beadsPhoto: NPS Photo

An adobe fort with lights under a starry sky — Bent's Old Fort at nightPhoto: NPS Photo

A Conestoga wagon and a solar race car stand on a road with a large adobe fort in the background — The Past and Future at Bent's Old FortPhoto: NPS Photo

Bent's Old Fort in background with wagon in front; fall yellow cottonwood leaves in foreground — For much of its 16-year history, the fort was the only major permanent white settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and the Mexican settlements.Photo: NPS Photo

A row of saddles are arrayed along a wooden beam near an adobe building — Pack saddles are at the ready.Photo: NPS Photo

Two animals are tied to a wooden frame in the interior of a large adobe structure. — Horse and Mule in the PlazaPhoto: NPS Photo

A wooden counter is in the foreground of a trade room, with sales items on display in the background — The trade room catered to trappers, traders, the fort's labor force, and travelers from the ranks of soldiers, explorers, and adventurers.Photo: NPS Photo

Park information and photos come from the National Park Service. This is not an official NPS site.