News Release

Special Program: Padre Martinez: Patriot, Villain, or Scapegoat?

News Release Date: February 17, 2026
Contact: Jake Koch, 719-383-5010
Contact: Mario Medina, 719-383-5010

La Junta, CO – Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces a special presentation for Friday, February 27th, 2026, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 2:00 p.m. in the Ed Stafford Theater at Otero College.
 
This free program will discuss Padre Martinez, an important figure in New Mexico history who was a contemporary and rival of Charles Bent. The program will be presented by park staff in conjunction with guest speaker Paul Espinosa, a documentary filmmaker currently working on a project about the life of Padre Martinez.
 
For additional information and updates about upcoming programs, please visit the park’s web page at www.nps.gov/beol or follow us on Facebook for additional information about the park. Please see Status of the Reconstructed Fort for current information on the structure.
 

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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 433 national parks and work with
communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

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