Visit Fort Craig National Historic Site, New Mexico

Add to My List Check Off

The 160 acre Fort Craig Historic Site, managed by the BLM in the ruggedly-beautiful Socorro County in western New Mexico. Commissioned in 1854, Fort Craig was one of the largest and most important frontier forts in the West. The Fort was situated on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (the Royal Road to the Interior Lands) — the 1,200-mile Spanish colonial trail from Mexico City to Santa Fe – making it New Mexico’s lifeline with Mexico for 223 years. For this reason, in 2000, it was designated a National Historic Trail. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Fort Craig was a Union Army Post manned by army troops. It also played host to the largest Civil War battle in the Southwest. This battle involved thousands of Confederate and Union troops, including the predominately Hispanic New Mexico Volunteers and New Mexico Militia. Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry and 38th and 125th Infantry served at Fort Craig during the Indian Campaigns after the Civil War. While touring the Fort, you will walk in their very footsteps, and those of well-known characters such as Kit Carson, Rafael Chacón, and Captain Jack Crawford. Abandoned in 1885 and owned privately for some time, the Fort was eventually donated to the Archaeological Conservancy and then transferred to the BLM and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Fort today is accessible by paved roads and 4 miles of gravel county-maintained road. Visitors can enjoy hikes and self-guided tours at the site year-round.

Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›