Bureau of Land Management
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 First established in 1854, Fort Craig became one of the largest and most important frontier forts in New Mexico. It was one of 8 forts built by the US Army along the old El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (the Royal Road to the Interior Lands), a 1,200-mile long Spanish colonial trail that connected Santa Fe with El Paso, Chihuahua and Mexico City. Fort Craig played a role in the Civil War and then, after the war, was home to the Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry and to the predominantly Hispanic New Mexico Volunteers and New Mexico Militia of the 38th and 125th Infantries. Mentioned prominently with the history of Fort Craig were folks like Rafael Chacon, Kit Carson and Captain Jack Crawford. Troops from Fort Craig were also central to the pursuit and capture of Apache chiefs like Victorio, Geronimo and Nana.
On February 21, 1862, thousands of Confederate troops came up against thousands of Union Army troops (many of them New Mexico Volunteers under the command of Kit Carson) in the largest Civil War battle fought in the southwestern states. The battle was fought upstream of Fort Craig at Velverde Crossing. The Union forces succeeded in holding the fort and destroying half the Confederate supply wagons. After the war, the troops stationed at the fort were primarily engaged with controlling Indian raids. By the late 1870's, they had pretty much worked themselves out of a job. The fort was permanently abandoned in 1885. The property was sold at auction to the Valverde Land and Irrigation Company in 1894 and, after several transfers, was finally donated to the Archaeological Conservancy who transferred it to the BLM in 1981. Today, Fort Craig is the site of Civil War reenactments and the scene for Chautauqua programs: events in which appropriately costumed actors recount events from the time in the participants' own words and language. The Chautauqua experience provides a platform from which we today can get a closer look at the actual experience of the historical persona being reenacted. Fort Craig National Historic Site is open year round and there are no fees involved. Maps: BLM - San Mateo Mountains |
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For More Information: BLM - Socorro Field Office 901 South Highway 85, Socorro, NM 87801 575-835-0412 |
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| Upper left photo of Fort Craig National Historic Site courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management Unless otherwise indicated, all text, photos and images of Fort Craig National Historic Site in New Mexico are  |
