Management

A participant in the 2021 American Solar Challenge pauses at Bent's Old Fort.

NPS/Stuart West

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site was authorized by Congress on June 3, 1960, to commemorate the significant role played by the Fort "in the opening of the West." As a National Historic Site and unit of the National Park System, Bent's Old Fort shares the National Park Service mission as well as its historic significance.

Park Purpose

The purpose of Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is to preserve the location, resources, and stories associated with this commercial and cultural crossroads on the Santa Fe Trail and to provide opportunities for visitor understanding, appreciation, and stewardship.

Management

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is part of the High Plains Group of parks in southeast Colorado and northeast New Mexico, sharing some staff and administrative offices with Amache National Historic Site, Capulin Volcano National Monument, and Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. The High Plains Group headquarters is located at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, near La Junta, Colorado.

Our Staff and Offices

The High Plains Group is headquartered at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.

Laws & Policies

Learn more about applicable laws and policies used to preserve and protect the park.

Superintendent's Compendium

The Superintendent's Compendium lists the special designations, closures, public use limits, permit requirements, and other restrictions imposed under the discretionary authority of the Superintendent.

Guidance Documents

In 2013, the park developed a Foundation Document to communicate a shared understanding of the park's purpose, significance, resources and values. This document can serve as a foundation for future planning and management decisions.

See also:
2006 Long Range Interpretive Plan
2023 Staffing and Operations Evaluation