Welcome to the Borderlands

Welcome to the Borderlands. Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. , , In winters northers howled ... In summer temperatures climbed above the hundred-degree mark ... Spirits shriveled as respiratory organs dried; lips cracked and eyes burned ... it took a particular kind of spiritual iron to survive ... , - David Lavender, Historian and Author , , A Cultural Crossroads , , You are now standing near the border of the U.S. and Mexico from the 1820s to the 1840s. The Arkansas River served as the international boundary between two nations. Into this borderland came trappers, explorers, and profiteers, as well as native, Hispanic and Euro-American peoples, all drawn to the region by profitable trade opportunities. From 1833 until 1849, Bent’s Fort was a cultural crossroads. , Business prospered. Peace held sway. , , Bent’s Old Fort, now reconstructed, continues to stand as a reminder of a time when “the permanent forts were specks in the vast loneliness.” , , Enjoy Your Visit, Be Safe , Stay on the trail. Watch for snakes. Protect yourself from the sun. Seek shelter if lightning threatens. You are in a dry environment. Carry plenty of drinking water. Please remember that the fort animals are not pets. Enjoy them at a distance. , , The National Park Service protects and preserves America’s special places. , , Kid’s Corner , Kids at the Fort , I like living at the fort. People come and go, telling stories of their adventures. I like to play with the animals and collect peacock feathers. Sometimes I even get to stay up late pulling taffy and dancing at the Fandango.