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Roswell in Chaves County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
 

Willson Hall

 
 
Willson Hall Marker image. Click for full size.
cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), December 25, 2016
1. Willson Hall Marker
Inscription.
Completed 1927
Named in honor of
Colonel James William Willson 1872-1922
Commandant 1898–1901
Superintendent 1901–1922
Colonel Willson came to NMMI in 1898 and was the prime mover in developing this school into a premier military institution. He became Superintendent in 1901 and under his leadership NMMI was first designated a distinguished military school in 1909 and became an accredited junior college in 1915.

Hagerman Barracks, the original Lea Hall, Bates Dining Hall, Luna Natatorium, and Cahoon Armory were constructed during Colonel Willson's administration. His alma mater, Virginia Military Institute, clearly influenced the architectural style and early development of NMMI.
 
Erected by New Mexico Military Institute.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: ArchitectureEducationMilitary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
 
Location. 33° 24.61′ N, 104° 31.438′ W. Marker is in Roswell, New Mexico, in Chaves County. It is on Campus Circle 0.1 miles north of West College Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this
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postal address: 101 W College Blvd, Roswell NM 88201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest and on the Southern Plains. 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 Comancherνa, and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hagerman Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Lea Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pearson Auditorium (about 700 feet away); Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard (approx. 0.4 miles away); De Bremond Athletic Field (approx. half a mile away); The Iron Cross (approx. half a mile away); N.M. 200th Coast Artillery AA Regt. (approx. 0.9 miles away); Continental Oil Company Station 1 (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roswell.
 
Also see . . .  NMMI Campus Tour: Willson Hall. YouTube video (0m 40s):
Brief video tour of the building. (New Mexico
Willson Hall Marker image. Click for full size.
cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), December 25, 2016
2. Willson Hall Marker
Military Institute, uploaded June 9, 2017) (Submitted on April 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.) 
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 439 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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Jul. 22, 2026