Big Timbers facts for kids
Big Timbers is a special forest area in Colorado. It sits right along the Arkansas River. This place was very important. It was a favorite camping spot for Native American tribes. It was also a key stop for travelers on the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail.
What is Big Timbers?
This area was known for its many trees. This was unusual because wood was hard to find along the Arkansas River. The main type of tree found here was the cottonwood.
The Spanish called this place La Casa de Palo. This means "The House of Wood." This name became popular after a peace treaty was signed here. This treaty happened between 1785 and 1786. It followed a battle where Juan Bautista de Anza defeated a leader named Cuerno Verde.
At its largest, Big Timbers stretched for about 100 kilometres (62 mi). It went from the mouth of the Purgatoire River to the border of Kansas and Colorado today.
A Winter Home for Tribes
Native American tribes, especially the Cheyenne, loved Big Timbers. They often moved here for the winter. For example, the Cheyenne who camped near Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site would travel about 30 miles (48 km) down the Arkansas River to Big Timbers.
This area along the river was perfect for hunting buffalo. Buffalo were a main food source for the Cheyenne. The tribe also gathered roots and berries. Big Timbers was their top choice for winter camp. The weather there was usually milder than other places.
William Bent was a trader who married a Cheyenne woman named Owl Woman. His wife and children would go with their tribe to Big Timbers in winter. They would return to Bent's Fort in the summer. When his family was at Big Timbers, Bent would join them. He brought goods to trade with the tribe. At Big Timbers, Bent lived more like the Cheyenne. It was a relaxed and free way of life. This was different from his more structured life at Bent's Fort.
Life for the tribes involved a lot of movement. They would go to Big Timbers when buffalo were plentiful. They would also move to the fort. They always looked for places with good grass, lots of wood, and fresh water.
Trading at Big Timbers
Big Timbers was a favorite spot for the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Because of this, William Bent built a new trading post nearby. This new fort was called Bent's New Fort. It was located close to present-day Lamar, Colorado. This made it easy for Bent to trade with the Native Americans.
Other traders also came to Big Timbers. These included Alexander Barclay and William Tharp. They all wanted to trade goods with the tribes.
