Fort Uncompahgre | |
Settlement Type: | Trading post and fort |
Nickname: | Fort Robidoux |
Pushpin Map: | Colorado |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Colorado |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Delta |
Subdivision Type3: | Nearest town |
Subdivision Name3: | Delta |
Unit Pref: | US |
Fort Uncompahgre was a fur trading post constructed in 1828 by Antoine Robidoux, a trader based out of Mexican Santa Fe. The post was situated about two miles down from the confluence of the Gunnison River and the Uncompahgre River, near the present day community of Delta, Colorado. Its design was more to secure goods and livestock than to be defensive,[1] and was abandoned in 1844 when hostilities broke out between Ute and Mexicans.[2]
In 1989–1990, local historian William Bailey headed up a group that reconstructed the fort. This reconstruction of the fur trading post is open to the public,[3] although the precise location of the original site has been lost and little is known about the original construction or layout.[1]