Bent′s Old Fort National Historic Site is in reality not an Old Fort but a New Fort with its reconstruction completed in 1976. Still, it is a very close replica of the original Fort built in 1833 on the north bank of the Arkansas River near a ford in the river which at that time was the border between the previously acquired Louisiana Purchase and Mexico. The fort was on the Santa Fe Trail, bringing to the fort not only the westward travelers but commerce with Mexico by connecting with the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro also in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The fort was close enough to the Rockies to entice the trappers to come to trade here. Further, it was near the hunting grounds of the plains Indians who showed their willingness to come here to trade their buffalo robes as well. Charles and William Bent were drawn to the area as young men and here capitalized on the enormous trade potential. Despite the great success of the Fort, it was burned in 1849. Sole surviving owner William Bent moved his trading business downriver forty miles where he constructed Bent′s New Fort.

Bent′s Old Fort National Historic Site is located in southeast Colorado near the present day town of La Junta, Colorado along the north bank of the Arkansas River and is accessed from SH 194 northeast of La Junta. US Highway 50 runs along the south side of the Arkansas river opposite Bent′s Old Fort

Bent′s Old Fort National Historic Site features a reconstructed 1840s adobe fur trading post on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail where traders, trappers, travelers, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes came together in peaceful terms for trade. Today, living historians recreate the sights, sounds, and smells of the past with guided tours, demonstrations and special events.

Now this is so much better, I had to cover up all night long and when I got up, I felt a little bit of a shiver. Crossing the high point in the pass means that I am now on the Atlantic side of the divide, a place that I have not been for months. However, this crossing will find me remaining on the Atlantic side of the divide for quite a while now, possibly as late as February 2014. I drive down off of the summit and to my first park for the day, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Previously, I had not wanted to go to another bone pit but I had heard two of the park rangers at Colorado National Monument talking about Florissant and what they were saying made me decide to stop here. Besides, it was not to far out of my way.

Still thinking about how I enjoy this park, I leave the site to travel further east to the next one, Bent′s Old Fort National Historic Site, which is not really an old fort but in fact a new one with the reconstruction completed in 1976. Still, it is a close replica of the original fort built in 1833 on the north bank of the Arkansas River near a ford in the river which at that time the border of the previously acquired Louisiana Purchase and the country of Mexico.