We have here a happy intermixture of nations and languages. French, Spanish, Indian and English salute your ears at one and the same time, and I am often at my wit's end to understand all the appeals made to me by such a Babel-tongued . . . — — Map (db m191922) HM
Near State Highway 194, 0.1 miles east of County Road 35, on the right when traveling east.
John C. Fremont
His name appears on almost any roll of Western pathbreakers. Fremont’s expeditions were instrumental in opening the Southwest. He visited the fort on three of his first four expeditions to the West.
Susan . . . — — Map (db m180971) HM
The Arkansas River sustains a
tree-lined swath across the grasslands.
Making use of the trees and plants
available to them was key to the
survival of people on the Plains.
Groves of cottonwood trees offered shade for
people and . . . — — Map (db m180872) HM
Near Colorado Route 194, 0.1 miles east of County Road 35, on the right when traveling east.
A Mud Castle Rises
In 1833, Bent, St. Vrain & Company built a trading post on the semi-arid reaches of the Arkansas River on the U.S. border with Mexico. Few if any buildings in the American West approached Bent’s Fort in size and . . . — — Map (db m71847) HM
From 1819 to 1847, the Arkansas River
formed the border between nations. Look across the river. When Bent's Old Fort was
active, you would be looking into a foreign country.
The land on the far side of the river was Mexican
territory . . . — — Map (db m181228) HM
Over the centuries, people living in and
traveling through the Arkansas River
Valley have used the natural resources
of the area to build their homes
and shelters.
Native peoples used bison skins to make tepees.
These cone-shaped . . . — — Map (db m180896) HM
On Colorado 194, 0.1 miles east of County Road 35, on the right when traveling east.
Erected at the request of the Daughters of the American Revolution 1910 by A.E. Reynolds
Bent's Fort Santa Fe Trail as shown by ruins of walls in 1909
1822 The Santa Fe Trail 1875
This stone marks the point of the trail where the . . . — — Map (db m192004) HM
Near State Highway 194, 0.1 miles east of County Road 35.
Edward Dorris
Died July 21, 1865
Aged 31 years
2 Ms. 28 Ds.
Edward Thou Hast Gone to Rest
In This Far Country of the West
Brothers and Friends Mourn and Weep
Thou in this Tomb Dost Sweetly Sleep
Edward Dorris, a . . . — — Map (db m71850) HM
Near State Highway 194, 0.1 miles east of County Road 35, on the right when traveling east.
I wish I was capable to do Bent and St. Vrain justice for the kindness received at their hands. I can only say their equals were never in the mountains.
- Christopher “Kit” Carson
Charles Bent
Charles Bent led . . . — — Map (db m71848) HM
The land surrounding the Arkansas River teemed with wildlife. Most numerous were the bison or buffalo. They were the dominant species of the high plains, the emblem of the prairie. The fortunes of Bent's Fort and the neighboring tribes were tied to . . . — — Map (db m192001) HM
When the Bents first traveled to this area they may have encountered elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, deer, grizzly bears, wolves, beaver, river otters, and the huge herds of bison that once lived here. Bison especially, provided the region's native . . . — — Map (db m180856) HM
Imagine traveling in the 1840s on the
Santa Fe Trail. You have just spent weeks
crossing hundreds of miles of lonely and
desolate prairie. There would have been
no help if you broke a wheel or an axle,
no help if you ran out of supplies. . . . — — Map (db m180968) HM
On State Highway 194, 0.3 miles east of County Road 35, on the right when traveling east.
For centuries, the Arkansas River Valley has been an important travel corridor that has shaped our nation’s history.
Long before the fort was built, wildlife, native peoples, European explorers, trappers, and traders traveled through this river . . . — — Map (db m71851) HM
Near State Highway 194, 0.1 miles east of County Road 35, on the right when traveling east.
In winters northers howled ... In summer temperatures climbed above the hundred-degree mark ... Spirits shriveled as respiratory organs dried; lips cracked and eyes burned ... it took a particular kind of spiritual iron to survive ... . . . — — Map (db m71846) HM
On N. 9th Street north of Swink Avenue (U.S. 50), on the left when traveling north.
Born in Kentucky in 1836
Came to Colorado in 1871
Established a general merchandise store and (trading post) at a rocky ford on the Arkansas River.
Moved store and family to present site in 1876, when Santa Fe Railroad was extended . . . — — Map (db m70390) HM
On State Highway 71 north of U.S. 350, on the left when traveling north.
Travelers from Missouri would have crossed more than 600
miles of plains by the time they stood here. They picked this
more difficult Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail for its
reliable water. With less than a quarter of the trip . . . — — Map (db m180840) HM
On North Whitesands Boulevard, on the right when traveling north.
The Orientation Center teaches persons who are blind or visually impaired the skills to live independently and work competitively. Originally part of the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the “Training Center” opened . . . — — Map (db m46076) HM
On U.S. 70 at milepost 178, on the right when traveling east.
Albert Jennings Fountain was a Civil War veteran, New Mexico legislator and prominent lawyer. On February 1, 1896, Fountain and his eight-year-old son, Henry, were traveling home to Mesilla from Lincoln. They carried grand jury indictments against . . . — — Map (db m46077) HM
On North Whitesands Boulevard, on the right when traveling north.
The New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired was founded on granted land in 1903 by the new territorial governor. The teacher and later regent was the blind daughter of lawman Pat Garrett, Elizabeth Garrett, who solicited the support of . . . — — Map (db m46075) HM
On State Road 54 at Dog Canyon Road, on the right when traveling south on State Road 54.
For the Mescalero Apache, Dog Canyon was a favorite camping area and trail through the Sacramento Mountains. It was the scene of several battles in the 19th century. In 1863 a group of Mescaleros was attacked by soldiers, and the survivors were sent . . . — — Map (db m72719) HM
Near U.S. 70 at Dunes Drive, on the left when traveling east.
The 49th Fighter Wing supports national security objectives with mission ready F-117A Stealth Fighters, an Air Transportable Clinic, and Bare Base assets. The wing deploys worldwide to support peacetime and wartime contingencies, trains USAF . . . — — Map (db m126895) HM WM
On U.S. 70 at milepost 241.5, on the right when traveling east.
An early fight in the Lincoln County War occurred near this sawmill on April 5, 1878, when several men of the McSween faction, including Dick Brewer and Billy the Kid, attempted to arrest Buckshot Roberts. Roberts and Brewer were killed, and two . . . — — Map (db m46038) HM
On U.S. 70 at milepost 237.5, on the right when traveling west.
This cone--shaped mountain is a landmark in southern New Mexico that has historic significance for many area families. In April 1868 a skirmish occurred between the Apache and Tularosa settlers when six U.S. soldiers left supply wagons between Fort . . . — — Map (db m73725) HM
In order to provide timber for the construction of his El Paso & Northeastern Railroad north of Alamagordo, Charles B. Eddy in 1898 built a spur into the Sacramento Mountains. The line operated as far as Cloudcroft until 1947. The Cloudcroft Trestle . . . — — Map (db m59164) HM
The Mexican Canyon Trestle was restored in 2009-2010. Over 420 timbers were replaced and large sections of the trestle were rebuilt. The US Forest Service, New Mexico Rails-to-Trails and local efforts continue to preserve this treasure.
The . . . — — Map (db m59346) HM
On State Road 545 at U.S. 54, on the left when traveling east on State Road 545.
In 1719, Spanish Franciscan missionaries built a chapel here dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Luz, Our Lady of the Light. The naming of the village is also attributed to the will o’wisp light in the canyon, a perpetually burning lamp in an . . . — — Map (db m46073) HM
On Road 82 at milepost 35, on the right when traveling east.
In this immediate vicinity, Captain Henry W. Stanton of the U.S. Army, for whom Fort Stanton was named, lost his life in 1855 in a skirmish with the Mescalero Apaches. For several weeks, soldiers commanded by Stanton and Capt. Richard S. Ewell, were . . . — — Map (db m73434) HM
On U.S. 70 at milepost 256.2, on the right when traveling east.
Lozen, a warrior and sister of the famous Warm Springs Apache chief Victorio, fought alongside her brother until his death in 1880 and later with his successors, Nana and Geronimo. Lozen also was a medicine woman and healer and, it was said, . . . — — Map (db m46033) HM
On U.S. 70 at milepost 253.5, on the right when traveling north.
Sierra Blanca, a complex ancient volcano, rises more than 7,300 feet above Tularosa Basin to peak at 12,003 feet. Vertical geologic movement between ranges and basin is about 2 miles. San Andrés Mountains on the west side of Tularosa Basin are . . . — — Map (db m46036) HM
On U.S. 54 at milepost 96.6 at County Road B030, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 54. Reported missing.
Located in the Tularosa Basin east of the great lava flows known as the malpais, Three Rivers was once prominent in the cattle empires of Albert Bacon Fall, John S. Chisum, and Susie McSween Barber, “the cattle queen of New Mexico.” . . . — — Map (db m46039) HM
On U.S. 54 at milepost 96.6, on the right when traveling north.
Located in the Tularosa Basin at the turn-off for Three Rivers Petroglyphs, this ranching village settled in the early 1870's took its name for a nearby convergence of three creeks. The cattle empires of Albert Bacon Fall, John Chisum, and Susan . . . — — Map (db m91006) HM
Inhabitants of a nearby village made the Three Rivers Petroglyphs (rock carvings) over 600 years ago. Over 20,000 petroglyphs have been identified in the area. The people were of the Jornada Mogollon (hor-NAH-da muggy-OWN) prehistoric Indian . . . — — Map (db m46042) HM
On U.S. 54 at milepost 96.6, on the right when traveling north.
Three miles east of here is one of the most concentrated arrays of petroglyphs in the Southwest. Along a mile-long volcanic ridge are some 21,000 images depicting animals, humans, plants and geometric shapes making it one of very few sites with . . . — — Map (db m91007) HM
On U.S. 54 at milepost 96.6 at County Road B030, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 54. Reported missing.
Three miles to the east is a mile-long array of pictures pecked into the solid rock walls of a volcanic ridge. They include both geometric and animal forms. They were likely made by prehistoric Mogollón Indians between ca. A.D. 1000 and 1400. — — Map (db m46040) HM
On U.S. 54 at milepost 78, on the right when traveling north.
The Tularosa Basin has been occupied by Indian groups for thousands of years. The first Hispanic settlers moved here from the Rio Grande Valley in 1862. Anglo settlers and cattlemen began moving into the region in the 1870s. The original 1862 . . . — — Map (db m46072) HM
On U.S. 70 (U.S. 70), on the right when traveling west.
Albert Jennings Fountain was a Civil War Veteran, New Mexico legislator and prominent lawyer. Colonel Fountain and his young son were presumed murdered near this spot while traveling between Lincoln and Las Cruces on February 1, 1896. Their bodies . . . — — Map (db m177645) HM
