Bent's Old Fort
"6 June
Thrusday.....Stopped and sketched....Saw Robinson's name on the door.
His Company passed May 31."
13 June " we traveled 11 m. and encpt. at Bent's Ft. this Ft. is a
considerable building
the wall is in moldid brick without bing burned
only 3 white men there now
Bent is gone to St. Lewis for goods.
the natives gives us poor in courage to go up the Arks. riv. the
mountains are so bad". 1849 Diary
Bent's Old Fort
National Historic Site is an authentically reconstructed trading post
based on drawings, written journals and archaeological excavations;
"todays" fort was built in 1975-1976. The original post was constructed
in the early 1830's and quickly became a major trading site for Plains
Indian tribes and trappers. Owned by the partnership of Charles and
William Bent and Ceran St. Vrain, the fort played a prominent role as a
supply base for the expeditions of John Fremont and for American
soldiers during the Mexican War. The fort was blown up and abandoned two
months after the Evans /Cherokee Company passed it. The murder of
Charles Bent at his
