What Is Fort Union National Monument?
Fort Union National Monument preserves the largest military installation assigned to defend New Mexico territory after its acquisition in 1848!
What Makes It Historical?
With the opening of the Santa Fe Trail in 1822, and the takeover of New Mexico in 1848, the United States had greater interest in guarding the resources of the Land of Enchantment! At first, there were 11 military posts scattered throughout the territory, until Lt. Col. Edwin V. Sumner of Military Department No. 9 stepped in and consolidated them into one huge fort, appropriately named Fort Union!
Located at the intersection of the Santa Fe Trail’s Mountain and Cimarron branches, the fort’s placement was strategic, but its construction was super shoddy! For ten years, soldiers lived in poorly built log cabins, repairing wagons and processing supplies from Fort Leavenworth. It was this control of supply chains that caught Confederate attention after the outbreak of the Civil War. Morale was already chaotic as soldiers reconsidered their loyalties and some officers resigned, but at the end of the day, cutting off the Santa Fe Trail would have ruined the new territory! To prepare, Fort Union got a total makeover as a star-shaped fort surrounded by earthworks designed to withstand cannon fire!
After the Confederate defeat at Glorieta Pass on March 28, 1862, Fort Union got a third makeover. This time, the buildings were built from plaster-coated adobe brick with glass windows and tin roofs, but pretty though these were, they were hastily built and very leaky once again! For the rest of the fort’s active days, it was more of a depot for wagons on the Santa Fe Trail than a military post. Wagons would stop here for repair and to feed their four-legged transports all the way until 1879 when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad put an end to the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Union was finally abandoned in 1891.
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at Fort Union National Monument!
- Donate to the Las Vegas Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
3115 NM Highway 161
Watrous, NM 87753
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit the Park?
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the fort is open daily from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and during winter hours, it’s open from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM!
More Photos
