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| Picture by Kolohe |
When European explorers arrived in what is now the southern part of New Mexico, the Apache Indians saw them as possible allies to help against the Mexicans that they had been fighting for years. However, after the Civil War, European settlers started moving onto Indian lands and the soldiers protected the settlers. As the battles between Indians and soldiers intensified, in 1866 the Army constructed Fort Bayard near what is now Santa Clara, New Mexico.
After Geronimo surrendered in 1886, the need for Fort Bayard diminished and the fort was selected for deactivation. However, Army Surgeon General George Sternberg noted that troops at Fort Bayard with tuberculosis seemed to recover from the sickness faster and did better than soldiers at other forts. He believed that "convalescing soldiers recovered more quickly at high elevation, with clean air, abundant sunshine, and low humidity. In addition, wholesome foods from the post's gardens, dairy herds, and poultry and livestock, contributed to the patient's welfare." Therefore, the fort was transferred to the Surgeon General's department and became the first tuberculosis sanitarium.
Fort Bayard Medical Center is now a long-term nursing care facility operated by the State of New Mexico.
During WW II, the fort was partially reactivated and German prisoners of war (POWs) were interned at the facility from 1943 to 1945. German POWs filled a labor need during the war years by repairing buildings, maintaining grounds, and tending the orchards. POWs were well cared for and even participated in activities with families at the post. The fort cemetery became a National Cemetery in 1976.
Except for a visitor center, most of the Fort Bayard buildings have now been abandoned and appear to be in fair to poor condition.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Fort Bayard National Cemetery encompasses 18.8 acres and has over 6,000 internments. We arrived shortly after sunrise and enjoyed the peaceful setting.
I wish I would have discovered City of Rocks State Park when our children were younger. Campsites are hidden among the rocks and kids have endless hidden passages to explore.
The "city" is a jumble of large, sculptured rock columns that were formed about 34.9 million years ago when a volcano erupted. Over the years, the columns have eroded leaving paths between the rocks that look like city streets; thus, the park's name - City of Rocks.
Located by the park entrance is a rock indicating City of Rocks State Park is a #1 attraction.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Deming (population 14,758) is located on lands that were part of the 1853 Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. After the acquisition, lands were made available so that a railroad could be constructed across southern United States.
In 1881, a town was founded along the railroad and named after Mary Anne Deming, wife of Charles Crocker. Crocker was one of the Big Four railroad tycoons who funded the Central Pacific Railroad.
Deming's location was selected because it was the site where a Silver Spike was driven on March 8, 1881, connecting the Southern Pacific and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroads. This was the second transcontinental railroad in North America.
Located around the city are various Mimbres and Casas Grandes Indian cultural exhibits, statues, and murals commemorating the area's native cultures.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
There is also a veterans' park in the downtown area honoring all those who served.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Hatch (population 1,539) is the "Chile Capital of the World" and home of Sparky's Bar-B-Que. Sparky's is a roadside restaurant attraction that is famous for their World Famous Green Chile Cheeseburger and Green Chile Room. As luck would have it, Sparky's was closed the day we passed through Hatch. We still enjoyed all of the quirky items surrounding the property. The one thing all of the statues have in common is that they all came to Sparky's for a Green Chile Cheeseburger -- even Big Boy and Ronald McDonald!
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Located on a park bench across the street from Sparky's was what appeared to be a green alien, but one of the locals told me that it was just a gringo that ate too many Red Chile Peppers. There were also a number of blooming trees in the area, and a giant man just down the street that was looking for a Sparky's Green Chile Cheeseburger.
Truth or Consequences (population 6,052) was originally named Hot Springs because there were over 40 natural-hot-spring spas in town when it was incorporated in 1916.
In 1950, the NBC Radio quiz show Truth or Consequences announced that it would air their 10th anniversary program from the first town to rename itself after after the show. Hot Springs, New Mexico, was selected and the program aired on March 31, 1950. They still have an annual festival each year to honor the event.
The Hamilton Military Museum is located in Truth or Consequences and features a museum, outdoor exhibits, and a half-scale Vietnam Wall.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
The Geronimo Springs Museum contains contains a collection of Mimbres and Tularosa artifacts from about 200 AD to 1350 AD. Also in the museum are collections of local historic farming/ranching tools, military objects, photographs, local interest items, and mining artifacts. A local miner's cabin was moved to the museum site from the nearby Black Range Mountains.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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