Fort Buenaventura

File:Fort Buenaventura, October 2007.jpg

Belegarth Medieval Combat Society's annual battle at Fort Buenaventura on 13 October 2007.

Fort Buenaventura was the first permanent Anglo settlement in the Great Basin. It was founded in 1846 just east of the Weber River, west of current downtown Ogden, Utah. The fort and the surrounding land were bought by the Mormon settlers in 1847 and renamed Brownsville (then later Ogden). The land on which the actual fort stood is now a Weber County park.

History

Fort Buenaventura was the first permanent settlement by people of European descent in the Great Basin. It was established by the trapper Miles Goodyear in 1846 about a mile west-southwest of the present-day Ogden municipal building. The fort was located east of the Weber River, at a bend in the river. The purpose of the fort was to serve as a trading post for trappers and travelers.

In November 1847, Fort Buenaventura and the surrounding land claim were purchased by the Mormon settlers for $1,950, which now would be worth about $55,711.50. The settlement was then renamed Brownsville, but was later changed to Ogden after Peter Skene Ogden who trapped in the Weber Valley.

Weber County park

The site of the original Fort Buenaventura is a park occupying 84 acres (340,000 m²). When made a park, it was originally a Utah State Park, but is now a Weber County park. The fort has been reconstructed as accurately as possible using archaeological evidence and written accounts. The reconstruction was done using construction in use at the time of its original construction, mortise and tenon joints.

Located at 2450 "A" Avenue in Ogden, Utah, south of the Miles Goodyear Park. Fort Buenaventura Park is open from April to October. It offers camping, canoeing and meeting facilities.

External links

• Ogden Convention and Visitors Bureau article on the history and current status of Fort Buenaventura
• Weber County Parks article on Fort Buenaventura
• Utah State Parks Department article on Fort Buenaventura
• Utah Convention and Visitors Bureau article on Fort Buenaventura