At Home in the Valley

At Home in the Valley. . Over the centuries, people living in and traveling through the Arkansas River Valley have used the natural resources of the area to build their homes and shelters. , Native peoples used bison skins to make tepees. These cone-shaped shelters were ideal for a nomadic way of life: strong but lightweight, easy to carry and erect. Warm in winter, open to breezes in the summer, they could also withstand the winds of the Plains. , Eventually, Plains Indian lodges gave way to adobe structures such as Bent's Old Fort. Later in the 19th century, as towns were established in the region, stone became a primary construction material. Many historic stone structures from this era are preserved in the communities of the Arkansas Valley. , Caption: In 1845 and 1846, Lt. James Abert traveled the Southwest on U.S. Army Expeditions, spending time at Bent's Old Fort. He documented his travels with journals, maps and illustrations.