Bent County, CO
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Historic


As you travel along the Santa Fe Trail, come and visit the Boggsville Museum, the first settlement after the establishment of trading post, Bent's Old Fort, where men like Kit Carson and John Hough stayed. Tom Boggs and John Prowers founded Boggsville in 1862 which is located on the Purgatoire River, 2 miles south of Las Animas on Colorado Highway 101.
Also in Las Animas is the
Kit Carson Museum where you can witness the development of Bent County with artifacts from the days of Kit Carson through World War II.
Ft. Lyon was once a sanitarium for those suffering from tuberculosis, including Kit Carson. Ft. Lyon is located off of Highway 50 East and is now a correctional facility but the Naval Cemetery and Kit Carson Chapel are still open to the public.


325 Amb Thompson Blvd
Las Animas, CO 81054
Phone: 719-456-0946
Email: gloria_l_dillon@yahoo.com
The unique Bent County jail was built in 1912 at a cost of $8,478.00. It is located north of the Bent Co. Courthouse on Highway 50. The downstairs contained the residential quarters for the sheriff and family. A separate entrance led to the jail proper located on the second floor. Curtis Gates, aka Ken Curtis and Festus of the popular TV series Gunsmoke, was among the many who lived in the jail. Curtis grew up in Bent Co and his father, Dan Gates, was sheriff for six years. Visitors are welcome and can make arrangements by calling 719-456-0946.

National Park Service
35110 Highway 194 East
La Junta, Colorado 81050
Phone: 719-383-5010
Fax: 719-383-2129
Email: BEOL_Superintendent@nps.gov
http://www.nps.gov/beol


More Info

P.O. Box 68
Las Animas, CO 81054
Phone: 719-456-1358

Founded in 1862, Boggsville is located on the Purgatoire River, two mile south of Las Animas on Colorado Hwy. 101. The museum is open all year round. From May 1st to September 30th the museum is open from 10:00AM - 4:00PM, 7 days a week or if the weather remains pleasant, through October. For more information contact Richard Carrillo.

1420 E 3rd St
La Junta, CO 81050
Phone: 719-384-2181
Fax: 719-384-7647
Email: coquist@fs.fed.us
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/coma/
Open 8:00 am – 12:00 pm; 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Comanche National Grasslands government-visitor information, recreation, hunting, tours into Picketwire Canyonland. No charge at any site. No camping fees. There is a $15.00 charge for Pickwire Canyon tours. During tours, knowledgeable guides will show you dinosaur tracks and interesting prehistoric, historic and natural features of the canyons.

15700 Rd. HH
Las Animas, CO 81054
Phone:719-456-0165
Fax:719-456-0166
Open to the public Monday - Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM. Lane Brundage, Care Taker.

P.O. Box 68
Las Animas, CO 81054
Phone: 719-456-6066
Located on 9th St. and Bent Ave. in Las Animas, CO, the Kit Carson Museum consists of artifacts through development of Bent County from the days of Kit Carson through WWII. Visit the first Las Animas city jail, an authentic one room school, a blacksmith shop, a carriage house, the original Bent County jail and a stage station. The museum is open all year round by appointment. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the museum is open from 1:00PM - 5:00PM, 7 days a week. For more information contact the Rawlings Heritage Center at 719-456-6066

312 E  Main St.
PO Box 377
Trinidad, CO 81082
Phone: 719-846-7217
Email: dagwood@trinidadusa.net
www.santafetrailco.com

Promotes, protects and preserves the Santa Fe Trail Scenic & Historic Byway.

Copyright 2002 © Bent County Development Foundation - Questions or comments please email us at bcdf@ria.net
Copyright 2002 © Bent County Development Foundation - Questions or comments please email us at bcdf@bentcounty.org