Fort Buenaventura

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

[edit] History

Fort Buenaventura was the first permanent settlement by people of European descent in the Great Basin and the region that is now Utah. It was established by the trapper Miles Goodyear in 1846 about a mile west of where downtown Ogden is currently located. It 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 was purchased by the Mormon settlers for $1,950. The settlement was then renamed Brownsville, but was later changed to Ogden after Peter Skene Ogden who trapped in the Weber Valley.

[edit] State park

The site of the original Fort Buenaventura is now a Utah state park occupying 84 acres. 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 State Park is open from April to October. It offers camping and meeting facilities as well as canoeing.