Last updated: June 7, 2024
Place
The Fort's Dining Room
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Amenities
2 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Tactile Exhibit
This the room is interpreted as the dining hall, remembered by one visitor as a place where "traders, trappers, and hunters, and all employees" came to eat. The noted author Frances Parkman wrote of his 1846 visit that he had eaten from "...a table laid with a white cloth, with castors in the center and chairs placed around it." Add to this Lewis Garrard's description of a "long, low dining room" and eating with "...knives, forks, and plates." It is certain that such a room existed; a spacious area like this would seem ideal.
Archeological work here uncovered what may have been an adobe landing for stairs. This feature has received historical documentation through a military journal which mentions a stairway leading towards an upper level apartment. Archeologist Jackson Moore believed that another rectangular adobe base and the remains of posts suggests the presence of vertical reinforcements—the length of this room supports this, as does the journal of Magoffin, mentioning "...a large wooden post as a firmer prop to the ceiling..." in the center of several rooms.
Another interesting discovery in this room was an asymmetrical pit, 10 feet x 13.8 feet. Inside the pit was charred planking and a charred barrel containing five bottles. These bottles are among the most fascinating artifacts to be unearthed at Bent's Fort. Four of the bottles were green wine bottles, two bearing identifying French shoulder seals. The pit also contained clay pipe fragments, a stoneware jug (olla), and hundreds of white trade beads.
Furniture here reflects the room's main functions, namely eating and entertainment. A 10-foot long table equipped with 14-20 chairs may represent an "average" dinner gathering. The small chairs reflect Spanish Colonial design. American windson or "fancy" chairs were also used. Sitting against the south wall is a trastero, or dish cupboard. The trastero contains a variety of ceramic dinnerware, including historically accurate Canton blue willow patterns. Calico wainscoting helps to complete the room's furnishings.
This room was probably where Colonel Henry Dodge was "...invited to dine..." in 1835. Similar invitations were extended to John Fremont and Stephen Kearny. Aside from meals, this room may have been used for other functions. Garrard recalled men"...waiting for the rudely-scraped tune from a screaking violin...." amidst "the boisterous pitching of the Missouri backwoodsman." Matt Field wrote that he had enjoyed "...several days courteous and really delightful entertainment." here in 1839. As the fort's largest room, it is reasonable to assume here was where "...all, irrespective of rank,..." gathered "to trip the light fantastic toe."
There was little evidence for a fireplace. The reconstruction uses the adobe brick feature as a brazier support; historically this feature may have been the base for a heavy object, such as a stove.
Archeological work here uncovered what may have been an adobe landing for stairs. This feature has received historical documentation through a military journal which mentions a stairway leading towards an upper level apartment. Archeologist Jackson Moore believed that another rectangular adobe base and the remains of posts suggests the presence of vertical reinforcements—the length of this room supports this, as does the journal of Magoffin, mentioning "...a large wooden post as a firmer prop to the ceiling..." in the center of several rooms.
Another interesting discovery in this room was an asymmetrical pit, 10 feet x 13.8 feet. Inside the pit was charred planking and a charred barrel containing five bottles. These bottles are among the most fascinating artifacts to be unearthed at Bent's Fort. Four of the bottles were green wine bottles, two bearing identifying French shoulder seals. The pit also contained clay pipe fragments, a stoneware jug (olla), and hundreds of white trade beads.
Furniture here reflects the room's main functions, namely eating and entertainment. A 10-foot long table equipped with 14-20 chairs may represent an "average" dinner gathering. The small chairs reflect Spanish Colonial design. American windson or "fancy" chairs were also used. Sitting against the south wall is a trastero, or dish cupboard. The trastero contains a variety of ceramic dinnerware, including historically accurate Canton blue willow patterns. Calico wainscoting helps to complete the room's furnishings.
This room was probably where Colonel Henry Dodge was "...invited to dine..." in 1835. Similar invitations were extended to John Fremont and Stephen Kearny. Aside from meals, this room may have been used for other functions. Garrard recalled men"...waiting for the rudely-scraped tune from a screaking violin...." amidst "the boisterous pitching of the Missouri backwoodsman." Matt Field wrote that he had enjoyed "...several days courteous and really delightful entertainment." here in 1839. As the fort's largest room, it is reasonable to assume here was where "...all, irrespective of rank,..." gathered "to trip the light fantastic toe."
There was little evidence for a fireplace. The reconstruction uses the adobe brick feature as a brazier support; historically this feature may have been the base for a heavy object, such as a stove.