2024-8-18 Ft Stanton Historic Site.

 One of our trips beyond Ruidoso was to Ft Stanton Historic Site.

Ft Stanton has an amazing history. It was established in 1855 as part of a campaign to get the Mescalero Apaches under control. It was abandoned by the Union army on August 2, 1861 due to the Civil war. It was taken over by Confederate troops from August 10 to September 10 when it was again abandoned. On September 27, 1862, it was again reopened and occupied by troops in October. The Mescaleros surrendered in 1863 and were kept in captivity at Ft Sumner for three years before they escaped back to the Sierra Blana mountains. Ft Stanton was used as a reservation until 1873.

Lincoln County was established in 1869 and was the largest county in the country. From 1873 to 1880, Ft Stanton troops were often the only law and order available. There were many wars between the settlers including the infamous Lincoln County War. From 1880 to 1890 there were again problems with the Indians under chiefs, Victorio, Nana, and Geronimo. The fort was no longer needed for Indian control by 1896.

In 1899, Fort Stanton was established as the first hospital in the country dedicated to treatment of tuberculosis and was under the Marine Hospital Service. Many patients were foreign seamen who had served at least 3 months onboard a United States flagged ship.

From 1933-1940, a Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) was located across the river and the boys helped with work at the fort and with the forest service.

In 1939 at the outbreak of the war in Europe a German luxury liner, SD Columbus, after unloading all passengers in Cuba and under orders from Hitler to avoid capture, scuttled their ship off the east coast of the U.S. 575 German survivors were rescued and sent to Ellis Island, on to San Francisco Bay, and ultimately to the CCC camp at Ft Stanton. After war was declared with Germany, they were considered prisoners of war. In 1945, they were repatriated to Germany.

The fort was transferred to the State of New Mexico in 1953.  From 1963 to 1996 it was converted to Ft Stanton Hospital and Training Center for the mentally challenged.

From 1996 to 1999 the fort was used by the State Corrections Facility as a women's low security corrections facility. From 200-2009 it was operated as a drug rehabilitation center.

Preservation efforts were also ongoing. In 1998 the Friends of Fort Stanton attained 501c status and became Fort Stanton, Inc. A Museum and Visitors Center operated by Fort Stanton, Inc., opened in the old Community Center. Governor Bill Richardson designated Fort Stanton as a New Mexico State Monument in 2007 and it was transferred to the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and State Monuments in 2008. It was renamed the fort Stanton State Historic Site in 2013. There are currently 4 buildings that are open and filled with exhibits. More renovation is underway.

Wow......how many places have you been that have served so many purposes for so many years?