Hanover in Grant County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Santa Rita Copper Mines

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 5, 2010

1. Santa Rita Copper Mines Marker

Inscription. Copper has been mined here since 1804. For five years, development by Francisco Manuel Elguea resulted in some 6,000,000 pounds of copper being transported annually to Mexico City by mule train. Brief periods of activity were halted by Apache opposition until the coming of the railroad in the 1880s, when the area became a major copper producer.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1804.

Location. 32° 46.867′ N, 108° 9.017′ W. Marker is in Hanover, New Mexico, in Grant County. It is on U.S. 180 at milepost 120.7, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hanover NM 88041, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest New Mexico. 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

and also the Gadsden Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort Bayard - 1866-1900 / Fort Bayard National Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Bayard (approx. 0.6 miles away); Bayard (approx. 1½ miles away); Ladies Auxiliary of Local 890 (approx. 2.3 miles away); Kneeling Nun (approx. 2.3 miles away); a different marker also named Bayard (approx. 2.9 miles away); Reclaiming the Land (approx. 4.8 miles away); Modern Mining & Processing (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hanover.

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sectionhead>Another marker is no longer nearby. Bayard (was approx. 2.9 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Rear of Santa Rita Copper Mines Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 5, 2010

2. Rear of Santa Rita Copper Mines Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 5, 2010

3. Santa Rita Copper Mines Marker

Santa Rita Copper Mines image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 6, 2010

4. Santa Rita Copper Mines

Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,822 times since then and 94 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 19, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.