September Program: Conducting Business in the Far West: Bent’s Fort, the Santa Fe Trail, and the Plains Indian Fur Trade

Monday, September 15, 2025

Doors Open at 6:30 pm
Enjoy complimentary refreshments and browse our partner tables (The Fort Restaurant and Charter Financial)  before the program.

Program  7:00-8:30 pm

Southridge Recreation Center

4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch

$5 Donation Suggested at Door for non-HRHS members

Consider applying the Donation to Membership!   

Check Membership information HERE.

Bent’s Fort was a key commercial, social, military, and cultural hub along the Santa Fe Trail between 1833 and 1849. It was built by William and Charles Bent, along with Ceran St. Vrain, as a trading post for commerce with Native American tribes and other traders. Plains Indians were the primary customers of the Bent, St. Vrain & Company, and to be successful the company needed to approach the trade according to Indian customs and provide the goods and merchandise desired by the Indians. In the short term, access to manufactured and imported goods vastly improved the day-to-day lives of the Indians. However, over the long term the fur trade hastened the loss of their lifestyles and confinement to reservations.

Mr. Schaubs, the Presenter, will inform about the history of many real life Forts, as well as touch on The Fort Restaurant.

ABOUT OUR PRESENTER:  MICHAEL SCHAUBS

Mr. Schaubs has had an interest in the culture of the fur trade since he was a child when he would walk corn rows outside of the Wisconsin community he grew up in and where he would find projectile points, pot shards, trade beads and gunflints.  On entering college, he was undecided as to whether to pursue a course of study in geology or archeology.  It happened that his Geology 101 Prof was captivating, and his Anthropology 101 Prof was mind-numbing.  So quite naturally, he became a geologist.  On such small things the course of a lifetime can be determined.

Although employed as a geologist since 1978, he has maintained a keen interest in the fur trade throughout his life.  After retirement, he developed a deep interest in fur trade inventories and the material culture of the fur trade and has applied his background as a scientist in evaluating these inventories.  He shares his passion and knowledge of the fur trade with the general public as a living history interpreter in the role of a fur trader at special events held at Bent’s Old Fort NHS, Fort Laramie NHS, Fort Uncompahgre (Old Spanish Trail Association), for the Tesoro Cultural Center, and at numerous schools and public groups in the area in which he resides.

PROGRAM SPONSOR:   CHARTER FINANCIAL –RICK MARTIN, CPA

Rick will provide information and updates regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill and what it means to you!

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