Fort Union

Buffalo Gourd

This gourd is poisonous which explains why it's in abundance along the road to Fort Powell.

Verbena

From Trinidad, Colorado to Las Vegas, New Mexico we literally saw hundreds of antelope in this high desert area, mostly in small groups of 3 to 10 antelope.

Fort Union

Fort Union, Chimneys and ruins of Post Officers' Quarters

Main walk through Fort Powell.

Company Quarters Ruin

Laundresses' Quarters, there were few chances for a enlisted man to have a family life.  He could marry only if approved by his commanding officer and his new wife agreed to be a laundress for the Army.

Foundation and daisies.

More ruins from Laundresses' Quarters area.

This is a great example of the bricks that can be seen beneath the adobe.

Foundation and verbena.

Chimneys in Teamsters' Quarters

Another fireplace and chimney.

Guardhouse, most enlisted men didn't like to hear their names called for guard duty.  During their entire 24-hour shift, they had to stay fully clothed.  These men paraded before the Post, escorted prisoners to empty trash barrels, guarded stables and corrals, and "took charge of all Government property in sight".  There was little time to get any rest at the guardhouse.

Chimneys in Post Officers' Quarters

Chimney and Company Quarters foundations

Company Quarters foundations, in the distance Post Officers' Quarters.

Coppermallow

View of mountains over Transportation Corrals.

Transportation Corral window, thousands of draft animals were required each year to supply the frontier army.

Another window...

Many artifacts were found in the privy when it was excavated.  Now it's just a big hole in the ground!

Ambrosia Verbena 

Antelope near fort.

Antelope scat

Santa Fe Trail tracks leading towards Fort Powell.  There are only a few places where wagon tracks can be seen because the pioneers traveling in wagons liked to ride with their wagons abreast so they didn't have to eat the desert dust from the wagons in front of them.

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Old park gate entrance; no longer in use.

Bent's Fort is located near La Junta, Colorado.

Bastion, each bastion had a swivel cannon that was used for signaling and welcoming trade parties.  They never had to be used in defense of the fort.

Fort's Main Gate

Scott on the plaza of Bent's Old Fort.

Looking out the Council Room window onto the plaza.  The Council Room was a neutral ground for Indian peace councils, and where terms of trade were agreed upon.

Trade Room - Bent's Old Fort was one of the significant fur trade centers on the Santa Fe Trail, influencing economies around the world.  Opened in 1833 by brothers Charles and William Bent and their business partner Ceran St. Vrain.  

Dining Room, upper classes and their guests would be served meals here while other employees cooked their meals in their quarters or from a community cooking pot.

Cook's Living Quarters, Black Charlotte, William Bent's slave, was famous for her cooking - especially  her "flapjacks and pumpkin pies".

Chiles hanging from ceiling.

Kitchen herbs

Looking out the kitchen door towards this manger.

Bread ovens

Lantern 

William Bent's Quarters

Ceiling

Blacksmith's Shop

This is the fireplace that the blacksmith used to heat his irons.

Blacksmith's bellows, original cowhide bellows were purchased for $20.00 in 1842.

The promenade above creates a nice covered porch area below.

Beaver pelts, also know as "hairy bank notes" could be bartered for trade goods.

Kindling

Watchtower, with flagpole attached, the watchtower served as a guard post above the main gate.  I rang the bell inside!

Looking out the watchtower window.

Window in Laborer's Quarters

Gourd water jugs

Blankets in Laborer's Quarters

Doctor's Quarters; Susan Magoffin, the first white woman to travel the Santa Fe Trail, traveled in luxury and at 18 married veteran Santa Fe trader, Samuel Magoffin.  She led a short but adventurous life, suffering a miscarriage during her stay at the fort.

Strips of buffalo hide were put around both windows and doors to keep out the cold.

Window

Clerk's Quarters

Bastion window

Corral fence, topped with cacti to keep horse rustlers from stealing livestock.

Wine Cellar

Looking up at the promenade to the Clerk's Office and Bastion.

Stable window

Peahens

Corral fence

Back gate, the fort was located on the Arkansas River, the international boundary between Mexico on the south and the United States on the north.  The trees in this picture were actually in Mexico at the time the fort was in operation.

St. Vrain's Quarters

Inside St. Vrain's room.

Rain gutter

Latilla shaded area 

Mica windows added light to some of the rooms - this is how they looked from the outside.

This shows the light the mica window provides inside.

At the end of the day, I rode the shuttle back to the parking lot but Scott decided to walk the trail.  Here he is in front of Bent's Old Fort, which became a National Historic Site in 1960 with reconstruction completed in1976.  The reconstruction is based on original drawings, historical accounts, and archeological evidence.