Colorado’s First Industry The Fur Trade Colorado’s First Industry

When did it start? Three years after Mexico won freedom from Spain a popular fad came to Europe. Fur Hats Fur Trade!! Colorado’s first industry Type of business that makes something

Fur Trappers Men who hunted and skinned beavers for their pelts In those days a beaver fur hat was the best you could buy Making money was the goal of every trapper Perfect job for men who liked adventure Men from all over came to be trappers England , Mexico, France, Canada and the United States

Mountain Men Trappers who spent a lot of time hunting in the mountains Lived off the land Got what they needed from nature Traded food and supplies with each other Hunted where the Native Americans lived

Mountain Men and Native Americans Friendly tribes taught mountain men how to hunt animals Where to hunt Plants to eat Mountain Men showed Native Americans Knives, steel traps and guns Married Native American Women Created friendships Helped the men prepare hides and pelts for sale

Forts and Trading Posts As the fur trade grew tappers needed to trade more than once a year People took advantage and built forts People could trade all year long Made forts near rivers and common trails

Bent’s Fort! Trading for Buffalo robes grew into a business Trade for Food, boots, hats, weapons, and several other goods were all there Indian blankets Baskets Pottery Beaded buckskin Open court yard surrounded by rooms and shops Travelers Spend the night Eat Care for their animals Most Popular in Colorado in the early 1800’s Founded by Charles Bent, William Bent and Ceran St. Vrain

Other Forts in Colorado South Platte River Four Forts Two have been rebuilt Fort Lupton and Fort Vasquez Gunnison River Fort Uncompahgre

Fur Trade and Native Americans Changes for Native Americans Native Americans had always hunted animals They used every part of the animal When white men came Native Americans learned that they could trade pelts for several things Guns, metal pots, cloth, etc. Some became very reliant on trading with the white man New things made old traditions start to disappear Not all Native Americans wanted trappers on the land They thought trappers had no respect or love for nature and only used it for personal gain Native Americans didn’t want their ways or traditions to change

End of the Fur Trade Was important in Colorado but only for about 20 years Beaver hats went out of fashion Trappers killed so many hardly any were left Mountain Men found new ways of living Hunted buffalo and bears for fur Worked as guides Translators for the US military