Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner

At Fort Sumner, the U.S. Army forcibly moved 9,000 Navajo and Mescalero Apache Indians from their homelands to the land surrounding this lonely outpost, where nearly one-third died during incarceration in the 1860s. The Mescalero Apaches—450 strong—left without asking permission and the Navajo were held for three more years before the U.S. Government resolved to allow the Navajo to return to their original homes. Today a museum provides information and a space to reflect upon the tragic history of Fort Sumner and Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation.

PO Box 356, Ft. Sumner, NM 88119 – Google map - (575) 355-2573
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El Camino Real International Heritage Center

El Camino Real, a 1,500-mile historic trade route that extends from Mexico City to San Juan Pueblo/Ohkay Owingeh, is one of the oldest trails in the United States. Remnants of the early journey remain today including hand-hewn carts, tools, leather water jugs, and religious altars and objects that accompanied the travelers. Visitors can experience the journeys of Native Americans, Spaniards, Mexicans, the military fort period and the first
Anglo settlers from the Eastern United States, through first-person stories and their artifacts.

PO Box 175, Socorro, NM 87801 – Google map - (575) 854-3600
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Coronado

Coronado State Monument is where Francisco Vásquez de Coronado—along with 300 soldiers and 800 Indian allies from New Spain—entered the Rio Grande valley in search of the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. He camped near the Tewa pueblo of Kuana, an earthen pueblo excavated in the 1930s. A square kiva, excavated in the south plaza of the community, contained many layers of murals which are some of the finest examples of pre-Columbian mural art in the United States and can still be viewed today. The visitor center, designed by noted architect John Gaw Meem also contains prehistoric and historic Native American and Spanish Colonial artifacts.

485 Kuana, Bernalillo, NM 87004 – Google map- (505) 867-5351
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Fort Selden

Fort Selden was established in 1865 to bring peace to the south central region of present day New Mexico. Built on the banks of the Rio Grande, this adobe fort housed units of the United States Infantry and Cavalry whose intent was to protect settlers and travelers in the Mesilla Valley from desperados and Apache Indians. By 1890, criminals and raiding parties were no longer considered a threat as hostilities eventually lessened and the fort was no longer needed. Like many small forts in the Southwest the government decommissioned the fort and it was abandoned in 1891. Today, a visitor center offers exhibits on frontier and military life.

PO Box 58, Radium Springs, NM 88054 – Google map - (575) 526-8911
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Jemez

Jemez State Monument includes the stone ruins of a 500-year-old Indian village and the San José de los Jemez church dating to 1610. In the 17th century, the Spanish established a Catholic mission at the village. The mission was short-lived, and in time, the people abandoned the site and moved to the current location of Jemez Pueblo. The massive stone walls were constructed about the same time the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The heritage center contains exhibitions that tell the story of the site through the words of the Jemez people. A 1,400-foot interpretive trail winds through the site ruins.

PO Box 143 Jemez Springs, NM 87025 – Google map
(575) 829-3530 Go to the website>>

Lincoln

Lincoln, the most widely visited state monument in New Mexico is part of a community
frozen in time—the 1870s and 1880s. The monument includes 17 structures and outbuildings that represent the Territorial Style of adobe architecture in the American Southwest. Today's visitors can see the Old Lincoln County Courthouse with museum exhibits that recount the details of the Lincoln County War and the historic use of the "House" as store, residence, Masonic Lodge, courthouse and jail. Walk in the footsteps of Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett and other famous and infamous characters of the Wild West. Trace the events of 1878 through the Courthouse and the Tunstall Store, with their preserved 19th-century atmosphere.

PO Box 36, Lincoln, NM 88338 – Google map - (575) 653-4372
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Hours (for all monuments)

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Seven days a week

Admission (for all monuments)

Free to Museum of New Mexico Foundation members
$5 out-of-state visitors and New Mexico residents
$1 discount for students
Free on Sunday to New Mexico residents
Free on Wednesday to New Mexico senior citizens (62 and above)
Free to children (16 and under)