Bent County Historical Society

The Bent County Historical Society welcomes you to the heart of Colorado’s Canyons & Plains region. Rich in history as an important stop on the Santa Fe Trail, and birthplace of Colorado’s agricultural and cattle industries, the area is shaped by its rich heritage of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo pioneer history.

Rooted in the old west, Bent County is today defined by its grassy plains, buttes and wide-open skies. Centennial ranches and farms – those belonging to the same family for more than 100 years – abound. We take pride in our slower pace of life, small-town feel and salt-of-the-earth roots.

If you are drawn to places where there is more than meets the eye, come visit historic Boggsville, an archeological site on the Purgatoire River. Stand in the wagon tracks of the Santa Fe Trail. Explore the reconstructed homes of Thomas Boggs and John Prowers. Rest in the shade of the cottonwoods and imagine the bustle of life and commerce in the 1860s. Enjoy a self-guided tour or visit freely with our helpful guides.

Take a stroll through the John Rawlings Heritage Center and Museum. Housed in the restored 1890 IOOF building in Las Animas, it provides a unique glimpse into our history. The exhibits salute Native American founders, our early cattle and sheep barons, the original 1888 telephone exchange, the first bank and more. The museum is home to the Bent County Art Guild and our extensive Heritage Library.  Its Grand Hall hosts many community and special events.

While you are here, we invite you to visit other attractions in the neighborhood:  Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Amache National Historic Site, (a WWII Japanese-American internment site), the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Comanche National Grasslands and John Martin Reservoir, to name just a few.

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