History Lives

Fort Uncompahgre was established as a fur trading post in 1828 by Antoine Robidoux, near the present site of Delta, Colorado. The Fort has come to life again as cooperation with the City of Delta, Interpretive Assocaition of Western Colorado and the Old Spanish Trail groups manage this unique museum that is located at the entrance to the Confluence Park complex.

Robidoux established several trails for supplying goods to Fort Uncompahgre. The first of these, known as the Mountain Branch of the Old Spanish Trail, lead north out of Santa Fe, up into the San Luis Valley, thence northwest across Cochetopa Pass, then down into the valley of the Gunnison River to Fort Uncompahgre.  This was a very difficult and challenging route, however, if not snowbound, was much shorter than following the Old Spanish Trail.  The second trail, known as Robidoux's Cutoff, was used for goods being imported from St. Louis. (exerpt from Mountain Men and Life in the Rocky Mountain West click here for more )

Visit the Fort website http://fortuncompahgre.org/

For more information contact The City of Delta at 970-874-7566