Near Deming in Luna County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Cooke’s Wagon Road
Basin and Range Country
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 6, 2010
1. Cooke’s Wagon Road Marker
In 1846, while leading the Mormon Battalion to California during the Mexican War, Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke blazed a wagon road from New Mexico to the West Coast. The potential use of the route for the railroad construction was one of the reasons for the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. Cooke entered Arizona through Guadalupe Pass.(Back):
Basin and Range province of southeast New Mexico is of broad alluvial plains from which isolated fault block mountains rise like islands in a sandy sea. Indigenous peoples have used both the basin and range in their seasonal cycle. The Victorio Mountains to the South yield zinc, silver, gold, copper, lead, and tungsten.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Natural Resources • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Mormon Battalion series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.
Location. 32° 13.483′ N, 108° 7.383′ W. Marker is near Deming, New Mexico, in Luna County. Marker can be reached from Interstate 10 at milepost 61. Marker is in the westbound
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Yucca Plains / Yucca (approx. 7˝ miles away).
Photographed By Bill Kirchner
2. Basin and Range County Marker
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 6, 2010
3. Cooke’s Wagon Road Marker
Photographed By Bill Kirchner
4. Basin and Range County Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 3,612 times since then and 208 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 20, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
