Santa Fe Trail Days

Status
Not open for further replies.

4v50 Gary

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
22,516
At Bent's Fort (near La Junta, Colorado). Reenactors recreate life during the Fur Trade era and westward movement. I think Sunday is the last day.
 
Went today and admission is free for the duration of the event! If you have walking problems, there are volunteers who will shuttle you from the parking lots (one is for regular and one is for disabled) to the back of the fort where you can enter via either the side gate or rear where the animal pens are. I fed the goats dog treats on the way out.

Spoke with reenactors who represented traders who traveled along the Sante Fe Trail, a group that represented John Charles Fremont (no Kit Carson reenactor) and finally the hunters who worked for Bent's Fort to supply it with meat. The hunters had had modified trade guns and a few rifles. They were busy cooking buffalo tongue (ready tonight) for themselves.

There are talks at Obero College in nearby La Junta, but I didn't sign up for any.

If you bring you dog, you may not want to go down to the Arkansas river. The mud is slippery and in the rush to get into the water my dog almost pulled me down into the river.
 
Last edited:
I was born and raised In Pueblo, had lots of relatives in La Junta. I did not appreciate the historical significance of the area when I lived in southeastern Colorado. Glad there are activities to help others dodge my ignorance! Thanks for your post.
 
You've a Civil War battlefield in Springfield, MO and others nearby (Carthage, Wilson's Creek).
 
Yes, Wilson’s Creek was reportedly the biggest Civil War battle west of the Mississippi. It is a wonderful park to visit. And the old square in downtown Springfield has brass markers in the street where Bill Hickok and Davis Tutt had their showdown. Civil War trench berms are preserved on the campus of Drury University. No shortage of history around here! :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top