Supplemental Materials

Turning the pages back to the 1830s

NPS/D. Ocheltree

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site displays a rich history with facets that are still being researched and incorporated into our understanding of its national significance. For teachers, this location and its place in time allows for reflection on the economic systems and politics of the fur trade era. Geography, ecology, and cultural interaction converge here where herds of buffalo become robes for trade. Kinship, commerce and Westward expansion irreversibly change the Mexican, Native American, and Anglo experience in such a place as this.

As you look through our materials, utilize our "Introduction to Bent's Fort" PowerPoint presentation to kick off your early American social studies unit. Thumb through our activity pages to suit the multiple skill levels and subjects you would like to support, which are also available in Spanish! Finally, take a short virtual tour of the fort and grounds with our ranger-led video.