Columbus in Luna County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Last Hostile Action by Foreign Troops

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

1. Site of the Last Hostile Action by Foreign Troops in the Continental United States. Marker

Inscription. Site of the Last Hostile Action by Foreign Troops in the Continental United States.

Led by General Francisco (Pancho) Villa, insurgent Mexican forces on the night of March 9, 1916 raided camp Furlong a United States army cantonment, and the nearby town of Columbus. Several people were killed, many others were wounded and numerous buildings and tents were burned. The underlying motive of the raid is still a dispute among survivors and historians.
Six days later United States punitive forces under General John J. (Black Jack) Pershing entered Mexico and pursued Pancho Villa and his band without success.
In recognition of the subsequent, long continued, friendly relations of the two countries the New Mexico State Legislature in 1959 designated this site as a State Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is March 9, 1888.

Location. 31° 49.558′ N, 107° 38.469′ W. Marker is in Columbus, New Mexico, in Luna County. Marker is located at Pancho Villa State Park, just south of NM Highway 9. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Columbus NM 88029, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pancho Villa State Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Pancho Villa’s Raid (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different

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marker also named Pancho Villa State Park (about 500 feet away); United States Custom House (about 800 feet away); In Memory of Citizens Killed / In Memory of Thirteenth Cavalry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Southern Pacific Railroad Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Aero Squadron Airfield (approx. ¼ mile away); Columbus (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

2. Site of the Last Hostile Action by Foreign Troops in the Continental United States. Marker

Pancho Villa State Park Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 3, 2010

3. Pancho Villa State Park Visitor Center

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 856 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 13, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.