Bent's Old Fort will continue to have living history programs/NPS file
Operational changes at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, a park in southeastern Colorado that represents an 1840s' trading post along the Santa Fe Trail, have drawn concerns that the site is losing is living history programming.
"As a living history volunteer for 25 years at Bent’s Old Fort, the actions taken by Superintendent Eric Leonard since he has assumed that capacity in 2023 are taking that extraordinary historic site in the wrong direction — and with alarming speed," Dennis Chappell, a volunteer from Pueblo, Colorado, wrote in a Facebook post. "Most recently, the decision has been taken to remove all animals, from livestock to chickens and cats, out of the fort by February 9. Prior to that, the rooms on the second story were closed to the public. The fort used to be open 365 days a year. In November, it was decided to only open the fort to the public Friday through Sunday."
Superintendent Leonard, however, told the Traveler that "Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site remains committed to preserving Bent’s Old Fort and the story of its significance in America’s history. The park is undergoing a period of transition to manage operations at the fort in a way that allows us to continue to tell the fort’s story while prioritizing public safety and animal welfare."
The superintendent noted that a 2006 planning document developed by the National Park Service is guiding the current direction being taken at the site.
In that document it was noted that, "at this point the park appears to be at its limit or even beyond in terms of livestock. Even the animals the fort has today are too numerous for the existing staff to care for and use properly. There are also issues with safety since no safety program or training program adequately addresses livestock use. The park needs to come to terms with its livestock issues through the development of a livestock plan and a program that is designed to care for and use an appropriate number of animals."
While Leonard is looking to reduce the number of livestock kept at the fort year-round in line with the planning document's guidance, the superintendent said that he is exploring "alternative options, such as leasing livestock during the busier summer season to ensure that animals continue to play a role in the story of the fort."
The superintendent also said in an email that, "[A]s we work on internal planning, park staff and our dedicated volunteers will continue to connect with the public in engaging and meaningful ways through a combination of living history programs and other interpretive programming as we work to restore access and create new connections to this incredible place."
Regarding Chappell's worries that the site would only be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Leonard said reduced hours were implemented January 2, but that beginning March 18 the fort would return to full operations seven days a week.
"During this time, park trails and grounds are still accessible seven days a week from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m., excepting holiday closures," the park staff notes. "The park sees a much-reduced level of visitation during winter months. This schedule allows staff to complete planning and training and creates opportunities for rangers to go into the community visiting schools, libraries, and other community organizations for national park and history related programming. "
The fort you see today is a replica the Park Service built in 1975-76 on the site of the original fort built in 1833 by brothers Charles and William Bent along with Ceran St. Vrain. The adobe fort was established to trade with Plains Indians and trappers. "The fort quickly became the center of the expanding holdings of Bent, St. Vrain & Company, including Fort St. Vrain to the north and Fort Adobe to the south, along with company stores in Taos and Santa Fe," according to the Park Service.
The fort also served as a staging area in the summer of 1846 as Colonel Stephen Watts Kearney led the “Army of the West” down the Santa Fe Trail to invade northern Mexico. Dragoons, infantry, Missouri Volunteers and topographical engineers formed the 1,800-man force. They arrived at the fort at the end of July, pausing just a few days, before crossing the Arkansas River into Mexican Territory.
Comments
Safety safety safety.
Was somene hurt? Was an ainimal injured? Did the SPCA or OSHA come in and find the animals were kept in an "unsafe" condition? Or is the new boss using safteyism to cover for his agenda (whatever that might be)?
As defined in Coddling of the American Mind, safetyism is a trending, nanny-state principle that anything that is not 100% safe is unacceptably unsafe. This has been an available tool to the NPS manager for some time and t should be rejected.
Kudos to the park manager who is making decisions totoall within his discretion. Amazing we can't have a park superintendent do something basic like this without getting lambasted by a 25 year volunteer who doesn't need to stay if he doesn't approve of the decision. Nothing nanny state about this as I read it. Just a guy doing his job.
There are SERIOUS safety issues at the Fort, and a serious or fatal accident is only a matter of time. The closures are appropriate and overdue. Multiple additions have been made to the Fort over the years without an understanding of the load bearing capacity of various suport structures and walls. This is not "nanny state" at work, it's the opinion of serious safety professionals and engineers.
This is the exact mochismo mindset that alllows for serious accidents and what evidence do you have to show that your statments are true? Nooone hurt, animal injury-in the ammount of tie the site has been open I find it very unlikley....
I understand safety concerns, but what has been extremely frustrating is the complete lack of TRANSPARENCY in making the changes. It has only been AFTER changes were made and AFTER the public outcry, that any statement was made by park administration. Finally we learned there had been a study by a Texas consultant (who never visited the Fort during a living history event) who recommended some of these changes. But where is the engineering study showing the structural issues? Where is the data on visitor satisfaction? One of the issues addressed in the study was DEI. Bent's Fort was a perfect example of inclusion, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence among multiple ethnic groups from its origins. The living history program has done a remarkable job of when it comes to authentic portrayal of all aspects of life at the Fort .The recommendations would reduce this to a static buildings and a video. Do we want our children to feel the experience of the Santa Fe Trail or do we want them to have more screen time?