Page 30 - 2019 Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide

MORA COUNTY
forT Union
An important part of Northeast New Mexico history
Fort Union National Monument, a unit of the National Park Service, was established in 1954 and is the site of what was once the largest fort in the southwestern frontier. It preserves excellent adobe structural remains and remnants of wagon ruts on the Santa Fe Trail.
The Santa Fe Trail developed from American Indian trade networks, ancient before the Span- iards arrived. It served the Spaniards of New
through commerce and interests.
The end of the Mexican-American war brought
large inhabited territories to the United States. In seeking the resources of these vast territories the region became a meeting place of many cultures. Fort Union was established in 1851 in order to se- cure commerce on the Santa Fe Trail, establish a federal presence in the new territory, and to fur- ther westward expansion. The fort served as sym-
provided arms and supplies to a network of forts throughout the southwest, keeping the Army’s role in westward expansion active. Fort Union also played a large part in the local economy as civilians were employed by each of the Depots, supplies were purchased from the surrounding community, and goods and supplies were trans- ported along the Santa Fe Trail.
Fort Union stayed in operation until the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1879 slowly put an end to the Santa Fe Trail and Fort Union. On February 18, 1891, the Las Ve- gas Optic reported that “The last few days have told a terrible tale at Fort Union. Four days ago everything was in running order, now everything is upside down and inside out...The sol- diers are busy packing government
and private property.”
Fort Union National Monument
was established by community sup- port in 1954 to tell the stories of the New Mexico Territory and the communities of Native Americans, Hispanos, and eastern soldiers and settlers that interacted here over 150 years ago.
Surrounded by a sea of native prairie grasses, the park presents an authentic experience. A 1.6 mile trail and ranger led tours bring the fort to life as visitors walk among the
fort ruins and stand in the remnants of the Santa Fe Trail. The park does not have an entrance fee. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat, and bring lunch and sunscreen.
‘Glimpses of the Past’ presentations are held at 7pm, the 3rd Thursday of the month from March thru October. Enjoy presentations that encom- pass the bountiful natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Southwest. These are in part- nership with the Friends of Fort Union National Monument – the Citizens Committee for Histor- ic Preservation. Presentations take place at 116 Bridge Street, Las Vegas, NM. Contact Fort Union for the complete presentation list.
The park is open year round, 8am to 5pm Me- morial Day to Labor Day weekends and 8am to 4pm the rest of the year. Fort Union National Monument is fee free. The park is closed Thanks- giving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Twen- ty-eight miles from Las Vegas, and ninety miles from Santa Fe, the park is located 8 miles on NM 161 at Exit 366 on I-25, Watrous, NM, 87753.
For more information contact the park at (505)425-8025 or visit //www.nps.gov/foun and //www.nps.gov/safe (Santa Fe National Historic Trail). Also find us on Facebook www.facebook. com/FortUnionNM.
For our 2019 Summer Events please see Calen- dar of Events in this guide, pages 44-50.
Spain as a route of exploration, conquest, and trade with the Plains Indians. Later Americans ewxploring the Louisiana Purchase visited what is today New Mexico and recognized an isolated province starved for manufactured goods and eager for mercantile exchange. With Mexican Independence from Spain in 1821, the gates of trade opened wide. This commerce across the plains welded Missouri and New Mexico together through economic interdependence, trading and financial partnerships. By the time of the Mexi- can-American War (1846-48) New Mexico was already strongly attached to the United States
bol of national power in a vast new acquisition far removed from the eastern heartland, and the Santa Fe Trail changed from route of commerce to military lifeline.
A decade after the founding of Fort Union the start of the Civil War brought a serious military threat to New Mexico, as the Confederacy sought the resources of the Southwest. In response Fort Union underwent significant changes in order to defend the territory and trail which it presided over. Fort Union would play a critical role in in- fluencing the outcome of the Civil War and pre- venting confederate advance into the west.
At the end of Civil War, the fort would finish construction on the 3rd Fort Union. This final fort composed of adobe and built by skilled craftsmen would be the largest Military Installation west of the Mis- sissippi River and provided both military and logistical functions. Troops out of the fort patrolled the trail and pro- vided escorts for mail stages and wagons, and participated in campaigns against Amer- ican Indians. The Quarter- masters Depot and Arsenal
30 | Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide 2019