Bent's Fort was the principal trading post along the Arkansas River in what is now South central Colorado.
The Bent brothers (William and Charles) along with Ceran St. Vrain were the proprietors of the fort.
While dealing in all sorts of fur, it was primarily the bison robe trade that kept the fort busy.

From Life in the Far West by Ruxton:
Bent’s Fort is situated on the left or northern bank of the river Arkansa, about one hundred miles
from the foot of the Rocky Mountains—on a low and level bluff of the prairie which here slopes
gradually to the water’s-edge. The walls are built entirely of adobes—or sun-burned bricks—in the
form of a hollow square, at two corners of which are circular flanking towers of the same material.
The entrance is by a large gateway into the square, round which are the rooms occupied by
the traders and employés of the host. These are small in size, with walls coloured by a white-wash
made of clay found in the prairie. Their flat roofs are defended along the exterior by parapets of
adobe, to serve as a cover to marksmen firing from the top; and along the coping grow plants of
cactus of all the varieties common in the plains. In the centre of the square is the press for packing
the furs; and there are three large rooms, one used as a store and magazine, another as a council-
room, where the Indians assemble for their “talks,” whilst the third is the common dining-hall,
where the traders, trappers, and hunters, and all employés, feast upon the best provender the
game-covered country affords. Over the culinary department presided of late years a [Pg 249]fair
lady of colour, Charlotte by name, who was, as she loved to say, “de onlee lady in de dam Injun
country,” and who moreover was celebrated from Long’s Peak to the Cumbres Espanolás for slapjacks
and pumpkin pies.

Bent's Fort historic site, 2024

Love the history...keep'em coming

Thanks

Will do, nice to know they are appreciated.

The reconstructed Bent's fort was built in the 1970's and they did a spectacular job of it. Recently it has been undergoing renovations and access to the the 2nd floor was restricted when the wife and I were there just about a year ago. It was still a worthwhile visit. I had been there in 2019 and saw the entire place. It is well worth a stop if you are a history buff and travelling anywhere nearby.

What Ruxton doesn't say is that the Arkansas river was the boundary between the US and Mexico at the time.

We visited there last summer, and it was awesome to see. Their website says they are only open for guided tours this summer, due to reconstruction and rebuilding. I sure hope they can get it repaired back to what it was.

Yes, it was the border for quite some time. Lots of legal, "legal" and straight up illegal trapping and trading occurred in the then Spanish/Mexican territory. The Southwest trade is an interesting story, very different than the northern mountains.

"I wouldn't trade that woman for all the beaver in Bent's Fort". Now where did I hear that? LOL

But dollar for dollar I'll wager the later buffalo robe trade brought in a lot more than the beaver plews ever had.

As always, very interesting. Thank you!