Fort Garland

After our hike we drove back to the cabin and took it easy for a day.  Susan and Elizabeth left for home.  

Fort Garland is the closest town to the cabin.  It is a 30 minute drive and really doesn't have much but a few restaurants, two hotels a gas station and a terrible grocery store.  It is better to drive an hour to get groceries than depend on this store having what you need.

After all these years of visiting we have never checked out the Fort.  I assumed that like the town there wasn't much to offer.  It turned out that I was wrong.

Fort Massachusetts was established 6 miles north of the current town on the side of Mt. Blanca.  After a short time it was decided to move the fort to the current location and rename it Fort Garland.  The Fort remained in use by the Colorado Volunteers and the US Government for 25 years.  Those 25 years were mostly uneventful.  After all their mission was to maintain peace between the settlers and the local Indians.  They must have done a good job.  The only battle related to Fort Garland is the Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico against the Confederates during the Civil War.  Fort Garland is also known as being commanded by mountain man and guide Kit Carson for a short time and also for being home to the Buffalo Soldiers for 3 years.

After a short video explaining the fort's history the staff archeologist gave us more details before she had to leave to take a conference call.  After that we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Unlike Fort Laramie in Wyoming, Fort Garland was much more kid friendly.  The kids were allowed to touch almost everything and also dress up.

The women of the Fort.

A lonely soldiers wife (Ella) waiting for her man to come home.

Private Timothy Baker

Private Nathaniel Baker

Private Wyatt Sipp