Old Forts,
State and National Monuments
The West was wild when "civilization"
decided to make it home. Forts were needed for protection and
strength! Today you can vist the "old west" and experience
a little bit about the life of that time. Many of the forts and
monuments offer a wide variety of tours and programs for families
and children. Contact each one to find out about their annual
activities and events.
Forts / State Monuments
/ National Parks & Monuments
/ Related Web sites
On another page within
this Web site: Wars and Battlefields - New
Mexico Military History
FORTS
The following forts are still
standing today, in whole or in part, and offer a variety of museum
exhibits, reenactments, "days of old" experiences,
festivals and other activities. Not all of these old forts have
links or contact information. It is suggested to contact the
local visitor center of the town to find out more. But for now,
step back in time and check out the links that could be found.
Note:
Fort Selden and Fort Sumner also are N.M. State Monuments.
- Fort Barclay (1848) - Was a civilian trading post
on the Santa Fe Trail
near Las Vegas, NM
- Fort Bascom (1863) - Near Tucumcari, NM
- Fort Bayard (1866) - Once a fort, then a military sanitarium,
now a Veterans Hospital. Located near Silver City in Central,
NM
- Fort Burgwin (1851)
- Built to protect the wagon road between Santa Fe and Taos.
Rebuilt fort and museum. The link is to the SMU program that
is held at Fort Burgwin. Click to find out about the forts history
and how you can be involved in seasonal classes hosted by SMU.
Located 6 miles S of Ranchos de Taos, NM (505) 758-8322
- Fort Craig (1854) - National historic site built to protect
the El Paso - Santa Fe road from the Apaches & Navajo. Located
near San Marcial, NM
- Fort Cummings (1863) - Built for protection from the
Apaches & to protect the Butterfield Trail and the road to
California. Located near Deming, NM
- Fort Fillmore (1851) - Built for protection from the Apaches
and was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route. Only fort
to be commanded by a women for a brief time. Located 6 miles
south of Mesilla, NM
- Fort Marcy (1846) - 1st American fort built on New
Mexico soil! This adobe fort was occupied and abandoned several
times. Ruins include the officers quarters. Hotel suites available.
Santa Fe, NM
(800) 777-2489
- Fort McClane - near Hurley, NM
- Fort McRae (unknown
dates) - Located on the northeast section of Elephant Butte Lake
in Elephant Butte, NM
- Fort Meigs (unknown dates) - San Patricio, NM
- Fort Selden State Monument - Fort Selden was established in 1865
in an effort to bring peace to the south central region of present
day New Mexico. Built on the banks of the Rio Grande, this adobe
fort housed units of the U.S. Infantry and Cavalry. Their intent
was to protect settlers and travelers in the Mesilla Valley from
desperados and Apache Indians. Several of the units stationed
at the fort were black troopers, referred to as Buffalo Soldiers.
A young Douglas Mac Arthur called the fort home while his father
was post commander in the late 1880s. Very nice museum, ruins,
historical programs, Annual "Fort Selden Days" and
"olde timey" craft programs year round. Open Wednesday
- Monday 8:30am - 5pm. Closed Tuesday. Located 13 miles north
of Las Cruces in Radium Springs, NM (505) 526-8911
- Fort Stanton
(1855) - Originally adobe, the buildings were replaced with stone.
Many of the buildings still stand and serve, today, as a state
sanitarium. Near Capitan, NM
- Fort Sumner State Monument - From 1863-1868, more than 9,000 Navajo
and Mescalero Apache people were held captive at Fort Sumner
and the surrounding Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation. Most of
the 400 Mescalero Apaches eluded their military guards and abandoned
the reservation in 1865. For the Navajos, another three years
and approximately 3,000 Navajos had died before the United States
government acknowledged Navajo sovereignty in the historic Treaty
of 1868 on June 1st. Also, Billy the Kid was killed here by Sheriff
Pat Garrett in July 14, 1881. His gravesite can be seen today.
Open Wednesday through Monday 8:30 am - 5 pm. Closed Tuesday.
Fort Sumner, NM (505) 355-2573
- Fort Thorne (1853) - Confederate use. Near Salem,
NM
- Fort
Union (1851) - Adobe
ruins of a U.S. military outpost that provided protection for
travelers along the western end of the Santa Fe Trail. Interpretive
trail and visitor center with exhibits, history talks, demonstrations
and more. Also a National Monument. Watrous,NM (505) 425-8025
- Fort West (1863-1864) - Established February 23,
1863 to protect the Piños Altos mining district from the
Apache Indians. Located on the east side of the Gila River in
the Piños Altos Mountains, just north of Silver City,
NM. Established by Captain William McCleave, 1st California Cavalry,
by order of Brigadier General James H. Carleton. Abandoned January
8, 1864. Thanks to Colonial R. N. Smith, 2nd reg. US Cavalry,
for this information.
- Fort Wingate (1862) - A U.S. military reservation.
Located ten miles east of Gallup, NM, near the Navajo
Nation
STATE MONUMENTS
Where would you go if you could
travel back in time? New Mexico boasts six state monuments that
are located at culturally significant locations throughout the
state. From prehistoric pueblos, to settlements of the Spanish
colonizers, to military sites created for the taming of the wild
west, New Mexico's history is very diverse. Below find a brief
description of the state monuments, but visit the New Mexico
State Monuments Web site for more detailed information, at www.nmmonuments.org.
- Coronado State Monument - The
history and beauty of this monument can be experienced 10 miles
north of Albuquerque in Bernalillo, NM. The Tiwa Pueblo of Kuaua
once stood here on the banks of the Rio Grande. Nearby, the Coronado
expedition camped in 1540. Visitor center, prehistoric and historic
Indian and Spanish colonial artifacts, hands on learning. Found
on the Camino Real Historic Trail off of the Jemez
Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway. Interstate-25, exit
242, and travel 1 mile west. Open Wednesday through Monday 8:30am
- 4:30pm. Closed Tuesday. Bernalillo, NM (505) 867-5351
- El Camino Real International Heritage
Center - The 6th
and newest monument in New Mexico, the heritage center tells
the story of the first European settlements of North America
and the road that made it possible through exhibitions, trails
and programs. For centuries, the international trail of commerce
linked the nations of Spain, Mexico and the United States. El
Camino Real (the Royal Road) remains a commercial corridor today
as I-25 parallels the federally designated El Camino Real National
Scenic Byway and El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic
Trail. Open Thursday through Sunday, 9am-4:30pm. Interstate 25,
Exit 115. South of Socorro, NM (505) 854-3600
- Fort Selden State Monument - Fort Selden was established in 1865
in an effort to bring peace to the south central region of present
day New Mexico. Built on the banks of the Rio Grande, this adobe
fort housed units of the U.S. Infantry and Cavalry. Their intent
was to protect settlers and travelers in the Mesilla Valley from
desperados and Apache Indians. Several of the units stationed
at the fort were black troopers, referred to as Buffalo Soldiers.
A young Douglas Mac Arthur called the fort home while his father
was post commander in the late 1880s. Very nice museum, ruins,
historical programs, Annual "Fort Selden Days" and
"olde timey" craft programs year round. Open Wednesday
- Monday 8:30am - 5pm. Closed Tuesday. Located 13 miles north
of Las Cruces in Radium Springs, NM (505) 526-8911
- Fort Sumner State Monument - From 1863-1868, more than 9,000 Navajo
and Mescalero Apache people were held captive at Fort Sumner
and the surrounding Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation. Most of
the 400 Mescalero Apaches eluded their military guards and abandoned
the reservation in 1865. For the Navajos, another three years
and approximately 3,000 Navajos had died before the United States
government acknowledged Navajo sovereignty in the historic Treaty
of 1868 on June 1st. Also, Billy the Kid was killed here by Sheriff
Pat Garrett in July 14, 1881. His gravesite can be seen today.
Open Wednesday through Monday 8:30 am - 5 pm. Closed Tuesday.
Fort Sumner, NM (505) 355-2573
- Jemez State Monument - Approximately 700 years ago, ancestors
of the present day people of Jémez (Walatowa) Pueblo,
constructed a large pueblo in the narrow San Diego Canyon and
called it "Giusewa," a Towa word that refers to the
many hot springs found nearby. The ruins are among the most impressive
in the Southwest. A 1,400 foot interpretive trail winds through
the 7 acre site. The visitor center contains exhibits interpreting
historic events from the perspective of the Jemez people. Located
43 miles north of Bernalillo on NM Highway 4 in the town of Jemez
Springs. Open Wednesday - Monday 8:30am - 5pm. Closed Tuesday.
(505) 829-3530
Some web sites about the Jemez area:
- Lincoln State Monument - Lincoln is a town frozen in time,
once called "the most dangerous street in America."
Lincoln State Monument, a National Historic Landmark, preserves
eleven historic adobe and stone buildings as they were during
one of the most violent periods in New Mexico history. Walk in
the footsteps of Sheriff Pat Garrett, Billy the Kid, and other
infamous characters involved in the Lincoln County War, 1878-1881.
In August, Billy the Kid rides again - and escapes (again!) from
the courthouse as the citizens of Lincoln reenact this historical
event at "Old Lincoln Days." Open daily 8:30am
- 4:30pm. Located just 12 miles east of Capitan on US Hwy 380
in Lincoln, NM (505) 653-4372
Some other Web sites about the Lincoln area:
NATIONAL PARKS AND
MONUMENTS
New Mexico has some beautiful
and historic National Parks & Monuments. Below find a brief
description, but visit the National
Park Service Web site for more detailed information,
or call them in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at (505) 988-6011.
- Aztec
Ruins National Monument
- Large, multi-story archeological site dating from the early
1100's. Reconstructed Great Kiva. Self-guiding trail & museum.
Near Aztec, NM via NM550
(505) 344-6174.
- Bandelier
National Monument
- Guided and self-guided
tours of prehistoric ruins and cliff dwellings dated from early
1100s!. Campfire programs, night walks, educational outreach
programs, 2000-volume library, picnic & camping! Located
in Frijoles Canyon, 45 miles NW of Santa Fe. OR on NM4, 12 miles
SW of Los Alamos (505) 672-3861
- Capulin
Volcano National Monument
- 1,ooo-foot high volcanic
cinder cone formed 65,000 years ago!! Trails around and into
the crater. Visitor center. Located 30 miles east of Raton, 3
miles N of Capulin on NM Hwy 325 (505) 278-2201
- Carlsbad
Caverns National Park
- One of the world's
great cave systems. Coined the 8th wonder of the world!
Looking for something different and exciting to do? The web
sites below have many links about guided and self-guided tours
in the many caves of the Carlsbad, NM
(505) 785-2232
- Chaco
Culture National Historical Park - 13 major archeological sites representing the
highest point of Pueblo pre-Columbian civilization. Founded in
1907. Located in San Juan County, in NW New Mexico, between Gallup
and Farmington. Open daily 8-5pm (505) 786-7014
- El
Malpais National Monument
- Lava flows, lava tubes,
ice caves, sandstone bluffs, Ventana Arch and various archeological
sites! Located near Grants, NM (505) 783-4774
- El
Morro National Monument
- Hundreds of petroglyphs, names and messages carved into the
base of Inscription Rock document the ancient Puebloans, Spanish
explorers, U.S. Army officers and American immigrants moving
West. Visitor Center. Located near Ramah, NM, 40 miles west of
Grants, NM (505) 783-4226
- Fort
Union National Monument
- Adobe ruins of a U.S. military outpost that provided protection
for travelers along the western end of the Santa Fe Trail. Interpretive
trail and visitor center with exhibits, history talks, demonstrations
and more. Also listed in forts section. Watrous,NM (505) 425-8025
- Gila
Cliff Dwelling National Monument - Remains of dwellings built into natural caves
by the Mogollon people between 1270 and 1280 AD. Camping nearby.
Located 44 miles north of Silver City on NM15 OR 66 miles north
on US Highway 180 (505) 536-9461 or 9344
- Guadalupe
Mountains National Park
- Actually located in SW Texas, it contains portions of the world's
most extensive and significant Permian limestone fossil reef,
tremendous earth fault, lofty peaks, unique flora and
fauna! Located 55 miles SW of Carlsbad, NM via US Highway 62/180
(915) 828-3251
- Pecos
National Historical Park
- Pecos National Historical Park contains the ruins of the ancient
15th-century Pueblo of Pecos, the remains of two Spanish missions
built in the 17th and 18th centuries, and numerous archaeological
sites in a landmark area on the Santa Fe Trail. Two units preserve
the sites of the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass. Located 2
miles south of Pecos, NM on NM63 (505) 757-6032
- Petroglyph
National Monument
- More than 15,000 prehistoric
and historic Native American and Hispanic petroglyphs stretch
across 17 miles, along Albuquerque's West Mesa escarpment. Trails
and visitor center.
Located just west of Albuquerque, NM (505) 899-0205
- Salinas
Pueblo Missions National Monument - Three associated Pueblo / Spanish Colonial sites
with
extensive ruins at Abo, Qyuarai and Gran Quivira. Self-guiding
trails and visitor centers.
Located near Mountainair, NM (505) 847-2585
- White
Sands National Monument
- Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square
miles of desert and have created the world's largest gypsum dune
field. Hiking trails & visitor center. Lots of events all
year long. See "events schedule" below. Located just
west of Alamogordo, NM (505) 479-6124 or 679-2599
RELATED WEB SITES
- Native
American Pueblos of New Mexico - another page on this Web site about the pueblos
in New Mexico.
- National Park Service - the
main home page for all National Parks. Or call them in Santa
Fe, New Mexico at (505) 988-6011. For the Public Affairs office
call (505) 988-6014
- New
Mexico's Cultural Treasures
- A comprehensive database of New Mexico's Museums, Parks, and
Monuments. Photos, major collections and up-to-date calendars.
Search by region, collection dates, type of institution, affiliation,
or name.
- New Mexico Public Lands Information Center - Information about National Parks and
Monuments, wildlife refuges, Bureau of Land Management land,
State Parks, State Lands, game and fish lands. Plus: maps, books,
guidebooks and licenses (505) 345-9489 in Albuquerque, (505)
438-PLIC in Santa Fe, (505) 627-0210 in Roswell, NM.
.
|