Bent’s Old Fort to Home (Leg 11 Summer Vacation)

December 14, 2019 P-TParaD Comments 0 Comment

We made it! This is Leg 11 and the last post to finally catch up on our trip summary of our #ptparadsummer2019 (read the rest of the posts you missed: Leg 10, Leg 9, Leg 8, Leg 7, Leg 6, Leg 5, Leg 4, Leg 3, Leg 2, and Leg 1). I have enjoyed reliving all of the memories of our trip. In Leg 10 we left off with us spending a great day at Great Sand Dunes National Park. On this Leg we’ll explore Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, and Nicodemus National Historic Site on our way home.

Day 15 – 12 July 2019 – Heading Towards Kansas

We woke up in Patty just outside Great Sand Dunes National Park. After a quick pack out, we were back on the road heading generally east for home. Our plan was to break up the drive into two days and stop at three National Park Service units: Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, and Nicodemus National Historic Site.

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is an old outpost on the Santa Fe trail. It became a hub of commerce between traders, trappers, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Santa Fe trail travelers. The structure standing on the the site today is a replica built from documents from an U.S Army Corps of Topographic officer, Lieutenant Abert, that was sick and recovered in the fort. He spent time during his recovery documenting all of the dimensions of the Fort.

The National Park Service has done a wonderful job of building and maintaining the replica of the Fort, down to the mouser cats they have running around. The ranger manning the site worn period dress and was outstanding. He was extremely knowledgeable about the fort and was witty and fun at the same time.

Bent's Old Fort park ranger swears in the kids — This ranger really earned his pay. He was so patient and engaging with the kids. It’s what makes NPS units so fun for us

The inside of Bent's Old Fort — Another look from Bent’s Old Fort from the second floor

The schooner wagon in front of Bent's Old Fort — He begged us to take this picture in front of this schooner wagon in front of the fort

The history here is quite extensive. Bent’s Old Fort enabled a lot of westward expansion. We enjoyed learning the history. It was a good break on the road. Before leaving, we ate lunch in the parking lot and then kept moving on.

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Looking down on Sand Creek and the site of the massacre from Monument Hill

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site lays about an hour from Bent’s Old Fort. I won’t begin to be a history expert on what occurred at this site. Please read what the NPS wrote on the Massacre. I have trouble understanding the hate in someone’s heart to attack over 700 women, children, and elderly…by today’s or yesterday’s standards. The Sand Creek Massacre is a dark part of U.S. history, but as I’ve mentioned in numerous other posts, I appreciate the lessons and discussions that it lets us have as a family.

We spent about an hour at Sand Creek Massacre and kept moving east. We drove all the way to Goodland, Kansas for the evening.

Day 16 – 13 July 2019 – The Last Day

We got moving in Goodland early in the morning. Our route took us near Nicodemus National Historic Site, so we decided to stop in.

Nicodemus National Historic Site

Nicodemus, Kansas is a small town in North-Central Kansas. The NPS shares, “Formerly enslaved African Americans left Kentucky in organized colonies at the end of the of post-Civil War Reconstruction period to experience freedom in the ‘promised land’ of Kansas. Nicodemus represents the involvement of African Americans in the westward expansion and settlement of the Great Plains. It is the oldest and only remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi River.” There are five buildings listed as part of the NHS, but the main building, The Township Hall, is where the visitor center and most of the historical displays and markers are.

The staff within the visitor center are descendants of the original settlers of Nicodemus and are extremely passionate about their town. They provided an immense amount of history of the town and its people through the years. If we had more time to stay, I think they would have filled an afternoon with their knowledge.

It was nice to make a quick stop and learn more interesting and less known history, but we were ready to get home.

Home!

We hit our driveway in the late afternoon. Our trip was amazing, but we were happy to be back home. We traveled over 2500 miles, through 6 states, and the kids earned 18 junior ranger badges!