Annotated Resource Set (ARS)
Title / Content Area: Bent’s Old Fort
Developed by: CH/TPS
Grade Level: 4-8
Essential Question: Explain the ways in which Bent’s Old Fort served as a cultural crossroads in the 19th century.
Contextual Paragraph In the late 1920s the Bent brothers arrived in the area along the Arkansas and north of the Purgatoire River in what would become Southeastern Colorado.
They partnered with Ceran St. Vrain in establishing Fort William, or as it came to be known, Bent’s Fort. Located on the Santa Fe trail, it became an important stop for trader, trappers, American Indian groups and travelers.
The old fort was destroyed in 1849. William Bent moved to a new area in the “Big Timbers” section of the Arkansas River and in 1853 began a new trading post known as Bent’s New Fort.
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 1 Resource Set
Bents Fort Bent's Old Fort, Bent's Old Fort, Old Fort Bent, La William Bent Prowers House, c. 1859 outside La Junta in outside La Junta in Junta, Otero County, Boggsville, CO Otero County, Otero County, CO c. 2009 Colorado c. 2015 Colorado c.2015
Drawing shows Bent's Occasionally referred View that would have Located on the US Head and shoulders View of the Prowers Fort on a plateau to as Fort William, the been seen as people side of the Arkansas portrait of William House on the above the Arkansas fort is a 1976 approached Bent’s River this was a Bent founder of Bent’s Boggsville Historic site River in eastern reconstruction of an Old Fort from a walled adobe Fort on the Santa Fe in Bent County, Colorado, near 1833 fort built by distance. structure housing Trail. Portrait was Colorado. present-day Prowers. William and Charles personnel; providing made sometime in the Bent, along with rest, shelter, trading decade before his Ceran St. Vrain. and repair facilities to death in 1869. early travelers, trappers and Indians.
William Bent erected a The post for trading This view emphasizes Historic American Donated in the 1930s Two story territorial new establishment on with trappers and the starkness of the Building Survey plans to Historic Colorado. style structure that the Arkansas in 1853. Southern Cheyenne plains and the for the frontier days was the home of John trading post/fort built This fort was about and Arapaho Plains welcoming presence W. Prowers a by William and thirty miles east of Indians for buffalo of an oasis of Charles Bent and teamster who worked Bent's old fort, by then robes. civilization in the Ceran St. Vrain on the for William Bent and in ruins. region. Santa Fe Trail. Ceran St. Vrain
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Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 2 / ll21/id/3577/43d/1 ll14/id/1218/rec/4
Governor Charles Christopher Carson, Ceran St. Vrain Susan Shelby Owl Woman The entrance to Bent, March 1847 bust c. 1880-1910 Magoffin (Mistanta) 1828-1847 Bent's Old Fort
Head and shoulders Christopher "Kit" Head and shoulders One of the first Anglo First wife of William “Gate” or main portrait of Charles Carson, 1/2 length portrait of Cerain St. women to travel on Bent entrance for those Bent, who served as seated studio portrait, Vrain, fur trader from the Santa Fe Trail. coming to Bent’s Old governor of the New wearing suit jacket, Colorado. He wears a Her diary is one of the Fort. Mexico province taken vest, and tie; white shirt and collar, major sources about in the Mexican photograph of a with a dark jacket and 1840s life in the American War, until portrait. cravat. American Southwest he lost his life in a 1847 battle.
Eldest of the Bent Carson was one of the St. Vrain was one of Magoffin, pregnant at Endeavored to aid Gate with watchtower brothers who founded well-known the founders of Bent’s the time, took ill at relations between above it speaks to the Bent's Fort along the frontiersmen who Old Fort. Bent’s Old Fort and whites and Indians security measures in Santa Fe Trail. spent time at Bent’s suffered a miscarriage throughout her life. place at Bent’s Old Old Fort. there. Fort.
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Courtyard and Courtyard and Pioneer wagons Kitchen Blacksmith Shop Carpenter Shop interior structures at interior structures at Bent's Old Fort Bent's Old Fort Bent's Old Fort
Looking toward the Fur Press located in Wagons of travelers Typical smells Activities in this room In addition to the tools kitchen of the fort, a the courtyard of Bent’s parked outside the included cottonwood included constructing used by carpenters, bucket sits on the Old Fort. walls of Bent’s Old smoke, spices, grease wagon parts, there were collections bench air-drying. Fort. droppings and spoiled manufacturing and of various parts of meat and foodstuffs. repair of tools, wagons to be recycled livestock shoeing and for use in the repair of wheel repairs. wagons for trade at the fort.
View provides insight Illustrates how pelts Examples of the types Hearth and fireplace Workshops such as Repair of wagons was into daily life inside were pressed and of wagons used by designed for food this were typically critical to the success Bent’s Old Fort. bundled for transport. travelers in the 1840s. preparation. Kitchen cluttered places of Bent’s Fort. utensils of the period. smelling of coal, smoke and hot-shod shoes.
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 4
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Warehouse Magoffin Room Laborers Quarters Billiard Room Living Quarters St. Vrain’s Room
These warehouses Susan Magoffin Sleeping and eating Billiards helped Trappers employed by Highly respected in were used as storage recuperated in the quarters for laborers, travelers and Bent and St. Vrain Santa Fe, his areas for the goods doctor’s quarters after employees, and employees cope with and living at the fort relationships in New awaiting transport to suffering a travelers from the boredom, idleness included Kit Carson, Mexico were St. Louis, MO. miscarriage as she states and Mexican and loneliness. Many “Old Bill” Williams, invaluable to the travelled the Santa Fe workers who made games were played to “Peg-Leg” Smith and Bents. This served as Trail. adobe for the fort. ease the long hours. “Uncle Dick” Wootton. his quarters at the fort.
Four warehouses in First known as the These rooms reflect An 1839 ledger shows Three living quarters While away, St. all, contained barrels, quarters of Dr. the customs and a diverse assortment illustrate the Vrain’s room was bags and bundles of Hempstead, resident beliefs of Mexicans of drinks that were conditions for military, used as a guest room. trade goods. One physician. He was hired to build the fort. served. Lt. James fort employees and fur It’s most notable served as a “bank reported to have had Albert also used it as trappers. occupant was Lt. vault.” a well-stocked library. an art studio. James Albert.
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 5
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Foundations Annotations
Curriculum Connections
• History
• Geography
• Reading/Writing
Curriculum Standards
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 6
4th Grade
CO State History Standard 1: Organize and sequence events to understand the concepts of chronology and cause and effect in the history of Colorado
• c. Explain the cause-and-effect relationships in the interactions among people and cultures that have lived in or migrated to Colorado
CO State History Standard 2: The historical eras, individuals, groups, ideas and themes in Colorado history and their relationships to key events in the United States
• b. Describe interactions among people and cultures that have lived in Colorado
CO State Geography Standard 2: Connections within and across human and physical systems are developed
• a. Describe how the physical environment provides opportunities for and places constraints on human activities
• d. Describe how places in Colorado are connected by movement of goods and services and technology
8th Grade
CO State History Standard 2: The historical eras, individuals, groups, ideas and themes from the origins of the American Revolution through Reconstruction and their relationships with one another
• d. Evaluate the impact of different factors – of age, ethnicity and class – on groups and individuals in this time period and the impact of these group and individuals on the events of this time period
CO State Geography Standard 1: Use geographic tools to analyze patterns in human and physical systems
• c. Recognize the patterns and networks of economic interdependence
CO State Geography Standard 2: Conflict and cooperation occur over space and resources
• a. Analyze how economic, political, cultural, and social processes interact to shape patterns of human population, interdependence, cooperation and conflict
• c. Interpret from a geographic perspective the expansion of the United States by addressing issues of land, security, and sovereignty
CC6-8HR/SS2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 7 from prior knowledge or opinions.
Content and Thinking Objectives
• Students will be able to analyze and question primary sources.
• Students will be able to describe life in another historical era, e.g. 19th century on the Santa Fe Trail.
Inquiry Questions, Activities and Strategies
• In small groups, using the Library of Congress’ Photo Analysis Sheet, analyze the images related to Bent’s Old Fort and share the questions raised with classmates.
• Research the lives of Carson, St. Vrain and others associated with Bent’s Old Fort. Assume the identity of the person studied and as that person, present an account of “your” life to classmates.
Assessment Strategies
Depending upon how one uses the resources and which standards are chosen, assessment can take many forms. For example:
4th Grade
• CO State Geography Standard 2: (d) Using the images of the inside of Old Bent’s Fort, describe how the fort affected the movement of goods along the Santa Fe Trail.
• CO State History Standard 2: (b) Give examples that demonstrate the interactions among those visiting Old Bent’s Fort.
8th Grade
• CO State Geography Standard 1: (c) Explain the patterns and networks of economic interdependence that existed at Old Bent’s Fort and along the Santa Fe Trail.
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 8 • CO State History Standard 2: (d) Evaluate the impact of ethnicity and class as it pertained to Bent’s Fort (Old and New) from 1820-1867.
• CC6-8HR/SS2: Using the images of various rooms of Bent’s Old Fort, describe life in a trading post in the mid-19th century.
Other Resources
Web Resources
• http://www.cogreatwomen.org
• https://www.nps.gov/beol/index.htm
• http://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-bentsfort.html
• http://exhibits.historycolorado.org/bentsfort/bents_home.html
Secondary Sources
• William Bent: Frontiersman (Great Lives in Colorado History) by Cheryl Beckwith. Filter Press, Bilingual Edition, 2010 – For students and teachers
• Bent’s Fort by David Lavender. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1954 – For teachers
Print and Other Media Resources
• http://video.rmpbs.org/video/2365021102/ - Rocky Mountain PBS Colorado Experience Series – Bent’s Fort
• Bent’s Fort Exhibit – Colorado Stories at History Colorado
Preservation Connection
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 9
The re-creation of Bent’s Old Fort based on historical sources written and drawn allows for better understanding life in another era.
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 10