Fort Buenaventura, Utah.
Established in 1846 by trapper Miles Goodyear, Fort Buenaventura was the first permanent Anglo settlement in the Great Basin in present-day Ogden, Utah. Located just east of a bend in the Weber River, the picket-enclosed fortress served as a trading post for trappers, traders, and travelers passing through the region.
In November 1847, Mormon settlers purchased Fort Buenaventura and the surrounding land claim for $1,950. The new settlement, which soon grew, was renamed Brownsville but later changed to Ogden after Peter Skene Ogden, a trapper in the Weber Valley.
Though none of the original buildings remain at the old trading post, the fort has been reconstructed on the original site. The rebuilding was painstakingly conducted, utilizing archaeological evidence and written accounts to reflect its original features. The fort’s dimensions, picket height, construction method, and log cabin number and style are all based on documented facts. The stockade has no nails; instead, historic wooden pegs, mortise, and tension joints hold the walls together.
The 32-acre Weber County Park also includes a visitor center, group camping, a day-use area, picnic tables, canoe rentals, and modern restrooms. Mountain men’s activities are held at special times throughout the spring and summer.
More Information:
Fort Buenaventura
2450 A Avenue
Ogden, Utah 84401
801-399-8099
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated January 2025.
Also See:
Forts & Presidios Across America
See Sources.