A view inside the Bent's Old Fort plaza! The fur press in the center helped bundle our main trade item - buffalo robes.
Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Directions:
1. Read the summary of Bent’s Fort. View the before and after slider images of the fort plaza and council room.
2. Choose, download, and print four activity pages linked in blue. Pages are listed in order from beginner to advanced.
3. Answer the four slider questions which match the activity pages you completed. Use the information on that page to help you!
4. Show an adult you are finished, say the Junior Ranger pledge, and print out your virtual Junior Ranger badge!
Bent's Old Fort Summary:
Bent’s Fort was a trading post within southeastern Colorado territory. Built on Native American homelands within the shortgrass prairie, the fort is surrounded by the Arkansas River and continues south to the border of Mexico. As the only resupply post located on the Santa Fe Trail during its day, the fort became an important place of rest, repair, and trade good distribution.
Charles Bent and his friend, Ceran St. Vrain, began the Bent, St. Vrain & Company here in 1833; however, it was Charles’ younger brother, William, who managed the post until its end in 1849. Many cultures speaking many different languages met to trade in this area. Traders and merchants from American states and territories, from Canada and Mexico, and from multiple Native American nations came to this spot.
Large buffalo herds supplied the main trade good for the Bent, St. Vrain, and Company – buffalo robes. The Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho people hunted the buffalo and processed the robes for trade. These heavy, warm robes were bundled and loaded on wagons to be distributed at both ends of the Santa Fe Trail. They eventually made their way to the eastern U.S., south to Mexico, and even across the globe.
Look Inside the Fort Plaza
Left image
Bent's Fort Plaza during Cheyenne and Arapaho ceremony
Credit: Lt. James W. Abert
Right image
Bent's Old Fort reconstructed plaza
Credit: NPS/D. Ocheltree
In 1845, Lieutenant James W. Abert visited Bent’s Fort and sketched what life was like here. Compare Abert’s sketch of the fort plaza to a recent photo of the plaza at the current reconstructed fort. What differences do you see?
Look Inside the Council Room
Left image
Trade negotiations depicted by Abert in 1845
Credit: Lt. James W. Abert
Right image
This room recalls where people of different cultures and languages met to agree on fair trade
Credit: NPS/D. Ocheltree
One of the rooms inside the fort is the Native American Council Room. This is where Southern Plains tribes would meet to discuss and negotiate the details of trade. As you look at Abert’s sketch, recall the item that the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho brought in for trade. You’ll see it in the photo resting on the floor. What items might they have wanted to trade for? See Activity 3 for ideas!
In this activity you will match the person from Bent's Fort with an object they worked with regularly. When you've finished, try the online slider activity below.
Left image
Match the Bent's Fort workers with the object they used often.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Right image
A saddle appears at the top, a ledger in the middle, and a copper kettle at the bottom.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
In this activity you will color the children sliding down the hill according to the directions. When you've finished, try the online slider activity below.
Left image
Cheyenne children on the Plains helped their families
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Right image
The buffalo provided food, shelter, tools, and clothing for Southern Plains nations.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
In this activity, you will match the person connected to Bent's Fort with the location on the map where they were often working. When you've finished, try the online slider activity below.
Left image
During the trading post years, these states on the map were just territories.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Right image
The network of trade relationships extended across many miles.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
In this activity, you will use the images of birds and their beak types to create and classify a bird of your own. When you've finished, try the online slider activity below.
Left image
Lieutenant James W. Abert was both a topographical engineer and a naturalist.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Right image
The northern flicker, the pheasant, and the killdeer plover can be spotted during the year at Bent's Old Fort
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
In this activity you will play a coin toss game to try to match the goal for each round. When you've finished, try the online slider activity below.
Left image
James Beckwourth worked at Bent's Fort, charted Beckwourth Pass, established a ranch, trading post, and a hotel.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Right image
Spanish monte was a card game commonly played in the 1800s in the West.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
In this activity you will consider trade relationships among Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and America and how diplomacy was essential. When you are finished, try the online slider activity below.
Left image
Trade along the Santa Fe Trail was multinational. Half of the merchants and traders were from Mexico.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Right image
Manuel Alvarez was the U.S. consul in Santa Fe during Bent's Fort trade operations in the 1840s.
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Congratulations, Junior Ranger!
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Congratulations, you can now take the Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site Junior Ranger Pledge!
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site is a better place because of Junior Rangers like you!
Credit: Adobe stock, NPS/D. Ocheltree
Great work! Now you can print your Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site Virtual Junior Ranger badge!
Last updated: December 19, 2024
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Mailing Address:
35110 State Highway 194
La Junta,
CO
81050
Phone:
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