Near Las Cruces in Doña Ana County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

San Augustín Pass

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 5, 2010

1. San Augustín Pass Marker Reverse

Inscription.

Divide between the Tularosa Basin to the east and Jornada del Muerto to the west, cut between the Organ Mountains to the south and the San Augustín-San Andrés Mountains to the north. White gypsum sands glisten to the northeast. Roadcuts in Tertiary monzonite. Organ mines yielded copper, lead, silver, gold, zinc, and fluorite. Elevation 5,710 feet.

(New wording as of June 5, 2014)
The pass has always provided the best access through three mountain ranges, the Organ to the south and the San Andres and San Agustin to the north. It was chosen as the route for U.S. 70, one of the nation's first coast—to—coast highways. Road cuts revealed Tertiary monzonite near the summit. Nearby, Organ Mountain mines yielded copper, lead, silver, gold and zinc. Gypsum sands glisten to the northeast, and to the west is Rio Grande Valley.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical date for this entry is June 5, 2014.

Location. 32° 25.495′ N, 106° 33.917′ W. Marker is near Las Cruces, New Mexico, in Doña Ana County. It is on U.S. 70 at milepost 178, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Las Cruces NM 88011, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Rio Grande Valley.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Gadsden Purchase,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Nike Hercules Missile (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of San Agustín Springs (approx. 1.2 miles away); Pogo and Pogo-HI (approx. 5.7 miles away); XQ-4 Drone (approx. 5.7 miles away); Shavetail (approx. 5.7 miles away); PGM-11 Redstone Tactical Version (approx. 5.7 miles away); a different marker also named PGM-11 Redstone Tactical Version (approx. 5.7 miles away); Beechcraft MQM-61 Cardinal Target Drone (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Las Cruces.

San Augustín Pass Marker (<i>updated photo; wording has changed slightly</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2014

2. San Augustín Pass Marker (updated photo; wording has changed slightly)

San Augustín Pass Marker (<i>map side 2; updated photo</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2014

3. San Augustín Pass Marker (map side 2; updated photo)

San Augustín Pass Marker (<i>wide view; updated photo</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2014

4. San Augustín Pass Marker (wide view; updated photo)

San Augustín Pass Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 5, 2010

5. San Augustín Pass Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 5, 2010

6. San Augustín Pass Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,363 times since then and 270 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1. submitted on November 18, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5, 6. submitted on November 18, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.