Fort Lupton

Fort Lupton (1836-1864) - An adobe trading post first established in 1836 by Lancaster P. Lupton in Weld County, Colorado. Abandoned by Lupton in 1845, occupied by others 1859-1864. Also known as Fort Lancaster

Fort Lupton History

An adobe trading post established by Lancaster P. Lupton in 1836. Lupton was an 1829 West Point graduate who resigned his commission 31 Mar 1836 to establish this trading post in Colorado. First Lieutenant Lupton had been a part of the 1834-35 expedition of Colonel Henry Dodge, 1st U.S. Dragoons, to the Rocky Mountains and saw the opportunity in the fur trade. He modeled Fort Lupton after Bents Old Fort creating a large two story adobe post 100 by 150 feet with one circular bastion and one rectangular bastion on opposing corners.

Fort Lupton became the first permanent anglo settlement in northern Colorado and prospered beyond his expectations. The fur trade declined in the 1840s and, after the severe winter of 1844-45, he abandoned the post, moving first to New Mexico and then to California.

The post remained unoccupied from 1845 to 1859 and after that was occupied by a a succession of endeavors including an overland Stage Station, a corral for passing emigrant wagon trains and, during the U.S. Civil War, as a temporary U.S. Army detachment camp.

Current Status

Part of Fort Lupton Historical Site, near the town of Fort Lupton, Weld County, Colorado. Recently replicated adjacent to the original site. Most of the original structure was destroyed but part of one adobe wall was preserved and adobe bricks from the original wall can be seen prominently displayed at various places in the replica. Interior rooms have also been replicated. Check in at the adjacent Fur Trader Store and Museum for an excellent guided tour. Must See!

{"selectable":false,"width":"500"}

Location: Just north of the Town of Fort Lupton, Weld County, Colorado. Maps & Images Lat: 40.098017 Long: -104.816458 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 4,908'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 109
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 44

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Lupton

Visited: 29 Sep 2011

Fort Lupton Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!