South Platte ValleyHistorical Society
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Fort Lupton, Colorado

Rebuilding the Pastfor the Future

The South Platte Valley Historical Society has a mission to preserve the history of the South Platte Valley area. The Society is creating a one-hundred acre history park on the north side of Fort Lupton with facilities dedicated to education and historic interpretation.

Plan your visit See what's on
The round adobe bastion of Fort Lancaster beside the fort's long wall, with cedar beam ends jutting from the plaster in golden evening light

Plan your visit

The South Platte Valley Historic Park will be open for public walk-in visitation on the first and third weekend of each month, May to October. Visitation hours will be from 10 AM to 4 PM on each Saturday and Sunday of those weekends.

Hours
  • Saturday10 AM - 4 PM
  • Sunday10 AM - 4 PM
Admission

SPVHS Members: FREE

Visitor donations to support the society are welcome. Suggested donations are:

  • Adult (13 +): $5.00
  • Youth (12 and below): Free
Where

2001 Historic Park Way, Fort Lupton, CO 80621

Northwest of the city of Fort Lupton off of Highway 85. The historical park is 1/4 mile West of Highway 85 off of County Road 14½. Turn right onto Historic Park Way.

  • 9 miles west of Interstate 76 on Highway 52
  • 10 miles east of Interstate 25
  • 30 miles from the Denver International Airport (DIA), Denver, Boulder, and Greeley
  • Less than one hours drive north of most locations in the Denver Metro area
Get directions

Look at the SPVHS calendar for any specific activities or events that may be happening. Also check our Facebook page for the latest updates.

Group toursPrivate events and rentals

The fort courtyard in full sun: a two-level log balcony and staircase, a red flag, a wagon and a bison skull on an adobe tower
The inner plaza of Lupton's Fort.

Walk the path

Start your tour of the historic park at the re-creation of Fort Lancaster, which was in operation from 1836 to 1844. Move down the path and see the restored trapper cabin from the 1850's. Moving further down the path, you will see both the Independence School built in 1875 and the Donelson homestead house built in the 1860's.

  1. The fort's two-story adobe trade block with projecting log vigas above the main timber gate

    Stop 11836-1844

    Lupton's Fort

    The re-creation of Fort Lancaster, which was in operation from 1836 to 1844. Walk through the inner plaza to the blacksmith and carpenter shops, living quarters, trade rooms and cantina.

  2. The restored 1850s trapper cabin at the park, hewn logs with white chinking, a woodpile and a sawhorse under a big sky

    Stop 21850s

    Trapper Cabin

    The restored trapper cabin from the 1850's, which was originally located down along the Platte River in Adams County.

  3. The white one-room Independence School with its bell cupola and brick chimney under a blue sky

    Stop 31875

    Independence School

    In 1875 the Independence School was built. The Independence School was the first frame school built in this area.

  4. A tall windmill against a deep blue sky beside the Donelson House

    Stop 41860s

    Donelson House

    The Donelson homestead house built in the 1860's, restored to how it looked in 1893 with the furnishings of that time.

  5. The finished post and beam barn: a cedar board-and-batten gable with cross-buck sliding doors and an open lean-to wing

    Stop 5Newest

    Historic Post & Beam Barn

    A period style barn to complement the Donelson Farmhouse, built in the style of Weld County farm and ranch barns at the close of the 19th Century.

The year at the park

The Heritage Fair, the Donelson House Teas and the rendezvous of the Tallow River Trappers, the living history department of the society, month by month.

See all events Calendar
Two mountain men in buckskins and fur hats walking a busy rendezvous lane among families and trader tents
Trapper Days Rendezvous in the lower rendezvous area.

The new visitor center

Help us finish it

The South Platte Valley Historical Society is committed to preserving local history and providing meaningful educational experiences for the public. To continue fulfilling this mission, we are developing a new Visitor Center that will include five fully equipped restrooms to accommodate the growing number of guests and program participants. This project represents an important step in improving accessibility, comfort, and overall visitor experience. We welcome community support as we work to create a facility that reflects the quality and care our historic site deserves.

Progress on the new visitor center and bathroom facility has progressed through the summer and will be operational this fall. Watch this space or our Facebook page for the announcement of its official opening.

Donate to the visitor center
Rendering of the planned adobe-style visitor center and restrooms on a lawn under a blue sky
Planned visitor center (rendering)

The new visitor center and restrooms

Get involved

If you are interested in supporting the mission of the South Platte Valley Historical Society, here are the ways to help.

Donate

Give to the society

Make a donation, pay an event fee or pay for an Independence School Session. Monetary donations are needed to cover the expenses of maintaining four historical structures and the 100 acre historic park.

Donate