Today we went to the Comanche Grasslands and saw the ruins Bent's New Fort.  It's situated on a slight bluff that overlooks the Arkansas River.  Downriver around the RR trestle bridge is Fort Lyon, also in ruins.  The place is in ruins but there is a rough trail and some wayside markers that interpret the place.  From Bent's New Fort Chivington led a column out to Sand Creek where he attacked some peaceful Indians.

Cool.  I have been to the Bent's Old Fort recreation, but have never seen the New Fort or Fort Lyons ruins.  I have been to the Sand Creek Massacre site as well, also an interesting place.  The Chivington site just to the south (on the highway) is also interesting, the hulk of a brick schoolhouse are all that remain.

At Sand Creek, we were told that the RR named the towns as it went along.  They'd start alphabetically and name a place after a popular person.  Unlike today, Chivington was seen as a hero to Coloradans back in the 19th Century.  Much more to see in Lamar where there is a museum dedicated to the Amache Detention Center (Japanese-American Detention Camp).  

Of course, Bent's Old Fort is more fun and less chance of getting bit by a rattlesnake.  Tried to see some petro-glyphs but got discoruaged by the Poison Ivy signs.  Didn't know we had poison ivy in Colorado.