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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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