Near Watrous in Mora County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Third Fort Union

— Fort Union National Monument —

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015

1. The Third Fort Union Marker

Inscription. Unlike its predecessors, the Third Fort Union was carefully planned. Building materials included native stone, adobe bricks — fashioned from soil dug from a field north of the fort site — and bricks manufactured in the nearby town of Las Vegas. Adobe walls were coated with lime fired in nearby kilns.

Logs were hauled from timber reserves in the Turkey Mountains, nails and window glass were freighted via the Santa Fe Trail.

The new fort actually consisted of two installations — a large military post and an even larger Quartermaster Depot.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the Santa Fe Trail series list.

Location. 35° 54.342′ N, 105° 0.822′ W. Marker is near Watrous, New Mexico, in Mora County. Marker can be reached from New Mexico Route 161, 7½ miles north of CanAm Highway (Interstate 25). Marker is located along the park trail at Fort Union National Monument. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3115 New Mexico Route 161, Watrous NM 87753, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Union: 1866 (a few steps from this marker); Rank Has its Privileges (within shouting distance of this marker); Home for the Commandants

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The First Fort Union (about 400 feet away); The First Ten Years: 1851-1861 (about 400 feet away); Ready to Repel the Confederates (about 500 feet away); Life Along Suds Row (about 500 feet away); The Six Mule Army Wagon (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watrous.

Regarding The Third Fort Union. National Register of Historic Places #66000044.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Fort Union National Monument

Also see . . . The Third Fort Union. The walls were constructed of adobe brick that stood on stone foundations, and were coated with plaster fired in limekilns. They were adorned with red bricks brought to New Mexico along the Santa Fe Trail. Other materials, such as tools, nails, window glass, fire bricks, and roofing tin were transported along the Santa Fe Trail from Fort Leavenworth. As beautiful as the fort appeared, it had been hastily constructed. Faulty roofing meant constant leaks onto the adobe structures, making

Marker detail: Third Fort Union Photograph image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Third Fort Union Photograph

repairs a frequent necessity. (Submitted on April 28, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Third Fort Union Layout image. Click for full size.

3. Marker detail: Third Fort Union Layout

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015

4. The Third Fort Union Marker

Third Fort Union Ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2015

5. Third Fort Union Ruins

(looking north along "Officers' Row" from marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 153 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 28, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.