Early America

Yesterday we continued our (whopping one year) tradition of exploring CO on Thanksgiving weekend.  We went to South East CO, to a town called La Junta (the junction).  More plains, less mountains.  This is the hometown of a National Historic Site called Bent's Old Fort, part of the Santa Fe trail, built around 1833 as a trading post between the "whites" and the Plains Indians.  Mainly, the Indians provided tanned (prepared) buffalo skins that were in high demand in American settlements back east.

I am interested in the Native American history in this part of the country and would like to come back to La Junta to visit their museum of interest on that topic.  Supposedly, I have Native American blood on both sides of my family, though you couldn't tell by my skin tone.  :)  Too bad we don't have the internet or some sort of online ancestry program so I could figure that out...

The stone barrier in the foreground marks an original cemetery, created by the settlers.

The trading post.  Indians and Whites would trade goods together, next to a Council Room where they discussed their agreements, rules and regulations.

The children's area of a dining hall; mainly for the wealthy.

This was one of my favorite features, a large elk hide painted to represent key events in Indian history.  It's called "Winter Count" and depicts a meteor shower, the murder of Charles Bent (probably the guy with his head missing?), and outbreaks of diseases.

We wandered around the building, exploring the living quarters, the well room, the kitchen, the blacksmith's shop and the carpenter's area.  It's amazing to think of how industrious and adventurous those people - our people - were.  And how far we've come in just a couple hundred years. 

Kit Carson's great grandson works here; we saw him but didn't meet him.  This would be a great place to take the kids, or the history buffs in your life.  Lots of authentic items to look at and touch, allowing for an interaction (of sorts) with American history.  They were about to decorate for Christmas!  I wish we could have seen that.

The saloon!  Yes, please!

This is an original wagon, built in Pennsylvania. Crazy!

 It was a fun day of driving, and exploring a flat different part of Colorado.  Of course, G managed to visit the nerd store "in support of small business Saturday."  Mmm hmmm.

We are soaking in the last day of holiday "vacation."  These 5 days have flown by and I am in no condition to return to work tomorrow.  Work?  What??  But, the kitchen cabinets are finished, the house is decorated for Christmas, the book for Lit Society is almost read, and it's time to down my latte and go see a movie real quick.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, peeps!