Fort Garland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Garland
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Fort Garland in 1874.
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fort Garland, Colorado |
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| Built | 1858 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000156 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
Fort Garland was an important military fort in Colorado, United States. It was built in 1858 to protect settlers living in the beautiful San Luis Valley. At that time, this area was part of the New Mexico Territory. The fort was named after General John Garland, who was a commander in the U.S. Army. Soldiers lived and worked here until 1883.
Contents
History of Fort Garland
Early Days and Kit Carson
After the American Civil War ended in 1865, a famous frontiersman named Colonel Kit Carson came to Fort Garland in 1866. He led a group called the New Mexico Volunteers. In 1867, Colonel Carson successfully worked out an agreement, called a treaty, with the local Ute people. This helped keep peace in the area.
The Buffalo Soldiers Arrive
From 1876 to 1879, the Ninth U.S. Cavalry was stationed at Fort Garland. These soldiers were African American and were known as the "Buffalo Soldiers." They played a big role in keeping order.
- In 1876, the Buffalo Soldiers went to the La Plata region. They helped stop conflicts between the Ute people and white miners who were looking for gold and other valuable minerals.
- The next year, they helped move white settlers who were living illegally on lands set aside for the Ute people.
Changes and Closure
In 1879, soldiers from Fort Garland were called to help with a difficult situation. Nathan Meeker, who was an agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the White River Agency, had problems with some Ute people. Meeker and others were killed, and some family members were taken captive. The captives were later released. After this event, many Ute people were moved to new lands. This reduced the need for a military fort in the area, and Fort Garland closed in 1883.
Fort Garland Museum
Today, you can visit the Fort Garland Museum to learn all about its history. The Colorado Historical Society restored the fort and opened it as a museum in 1950. It is now managed by an organization called History Colorado.
What You Can See at the Museum
When you visit, you can explore several restored and rebuilt buildings:
- The adobe Commandant's Quarters: This is where Colonel Kit Carson and his wife once lived.
- The cavalry barracks: These buildings show what life was like for the soldiers. They also have exhibits about traditional Hispanic art and how people traveled in the 1800s.
- Officer's quarters: These rooms show how the officers lived.
The museum has special exhibits that focus on the lives of Kit Carson and the Buffalo Soldiers.
Pike's Stockade Nearby
About 45 miles southwest of Fort Garland, you can find Pike's Stockade. This is a reconstructed site where a famous explorer and Army officer named Zebulon Pike raised the American flag in 1807. It's another interesting historical spot in the area.
