Saturday, May 26, 2012

Thursday Part II

After a nice lunch we headed off to Fort Craig National Historic Site. Fort Craig began life in 1854 at the northern end of the Jornada Del Muerto or journey of death. This was the most dangerous part of the El Camino Real from Mexico City to Santa Fe. encompassing 90 miles of high desert without much water and many hostile Indians. Fort Craig played a role in the Civil War and at one time was the largest fort in New Mexico with 2,000+ troupes stationed there.The fort was abandoned in 1885 after Geronimo, Victorio and Nana moved to the reservations with their followers.


A map of the fort, one of the largest in the southwest.

A tabletop model of the fort.

33 stars on the flag that was in use during the time of the fort.

The fort was well marked with informational signs.

This is the guardhouse and entrance to the fort.

The flag pole was massive and was probably quite an undertaking to erect.

The commanding office lived well.

One of the biggest post commanders homes I've seen.

Some of the storage rooms.


And another one.

The stables were here.

Hospitals, both old and new.

 

From one corner of the fort looking back to the flag at the center, this was one big place.
  
Pretty nice officers quarters, too.
Today the wind is back making an attempt to relocate the entire state of New Mexico to Texas. We have already hit 32 mph and it's building. I'm going to drop the anchor and keep an eye out for Arizona passing by while trying to enjoy the good life.

8 comments:

  1. Very interesting historical information and photos. Thanks so much for sharing. Enjoy the weekend.

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  2. I never saw an arrangement of stars like on that flag. Very interesting.

    What a nice job they did with the site explanations and photos. Make history come alive.

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  3. Thanks guys, just trying to splain what I see.

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  4. I love to read stories of the old west and I always wonder about the people who lived back then. Had to be a hard existence by today's standards. I wonder what it would be like to live in a walled enclosure.

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    1. Not a very pleasant life from what I've read. I think our forefathers were much tougher than we were.

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  5. Great place that was. these Forts were all some people had to escape the Indian raids. But the were far and few between.

    BTW did you see me blow by today. It was bad here.

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    Replies
    1. You must have been anchored in Arizona, if you'd spread your arms you probably would have flown right on by.

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