Las Animas Colorado Old Kit Carson House Lamar Commercial Studio Real Photo Postcard
The "Old Kit Carson House" in Las Animas, Colorado, stands as a tangible link to Christopher "Kit" Carson, one of the most famous figures of the American West. While Carson's early life was marked by extensive travels as a mountain man and guide, his later years saw him involved in more settled roles, including as a U.S. Indian Agent at various posts, notably at Fort Lyon near what would become Las Animas, from 1861 to 1867. This structure represents a residence or place of significant association during this period, offering a glimpse into the domestic life of a frontier legend.
Las Animas, founded in the 1870s along the Arkansas River, grew from a supply point for Fort Lyon and a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The preservation of the Kit Carson House highlights the region's pioneering history and the era of westward expansion, reflecting the period when figures like Carson transitioned from exploration to settlement and the complexities of relations between Native American tribes and the encroaching American frontier. Such historic homes offer valuable insights into the built environment and the lives of those who shaped the American West during the mid-to-late 19th century.
Las Animas, founded in the 1870s along the Arkansas River, grew from a supply point for Fort Lyon and a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The preservation of the Kit Carson House highlights the region's pioneering history and the era of westward expansion, reflecting the period when figures like Carson transitioned from exploration to settlement and the complexities of relations between Native American tribes and the encroaching American frontier. Such historic homes offer valuable insights into the built environment and the lives of those who shaped the American West during the mid-to-late 19th century.
