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established in 1855 allowing settlement of southeastern New Mexico

was briefly occupied by Confederate Forces in 1861

was reoccupied in 1862 by Col. "Kit" Carson with five companies of New Mexico volunteers.

home to 1st Dragoon Regt., The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, New Mexico Volunteers and Buffalo Soldier Units

played a major role in the Lincoln County War when the army's intervention proved decisive in 1878

was home in 1887 and 1889 to John J. "Blackjack" Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in WWI.

was turned into the first federal hospital exclusively for the treatment of tuberculosis by the US Marine Hospital Service in 1899.

treated about 5000 Marine Seamen for tuberculosis. Over 1500 from eight countries were buried in the cemetery.

was the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Depression

was the first internment camp of World War II when 410 German Seamen arrived in the Spring of 1841 (before Pearl Habor)

was transferred by the Federal Government to the State of New Mexico in 1853. It was used by the State as a hospital until 1994.

was placed on the State Register of Historic Places in 1969, on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and on New Mexico's most endangered buildings list in 1999

became a New Mexico State Monument on August 11, 2007

Fort Stanton (built 1855) was a U.S. military fort built in New Mexico in the United States. It was established to protect settlements along the Rio Bonito in the Apache Wars. Kit Carson, John "Black Jack" Pershing, Billy the Kid, and Buffalo Soldiers of the 8th and 9th Cavalry all lived here.

The Mescalero Apache live in the area near the Fort.

Fort Stanton property became America's first federal tuberculosis hospital. In World War II it interned both German and Japanese.

Today, Fort Stanton is a popular site for military reenactments and recreational horse riding. It has over 360 miles of trails and is the venue of an annual endurance riding event that has grown to be 6 days long. Fort Stanton is on BLM land surrounded by the Smokey Bear Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest.

In September of 2008, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson established Fort Stanton as a living history venue, Fort Stanton State Monument.

Volunteers Needed!

Fort Stanton LIVE! Call:

Clinton Smith 575.258.5702

Pcscm58@valornet.com

Museum Docents Call:

Peggy Whittemore 575.336.1436

                                                              pegw@valornet.com

Photo by Adele Karolik