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Fort Stanton Historic Site is one of the best preserved 19th century US Army forts in the country. It’s located near Capitan, New Mexico.
History
Fort Stanton was established in 1855 to protect Hispano and white settlements from raids by the Mescalero Apaches. It was named for Captain Henry W. Stanton, who was killed in a skirmish with the Apaches. Kit Carson (1809-1868), John “Black Jack” Pershing (1860-1948), and Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry were all stationed there.
Confederate forces occupied the fort briefly from 1861 to 1862, and campaigns against the Mescalero Apaches continued until the 1880s. Fort Stanton was then abandoned in 1896.
In 1899, President William McKinley transferred the property to the Marine Hospital Service, converting Fort Stanton into the country’s first federal tuberculosis sanatorium. Patients lived in tent cottages, and the hospital served over 5,000 people until it closed in 1953. 1,500 patients are buried in the Maritime Cemetery overlooking the fort.
During World War II, the fort was used as an internment center for 411 German nationals rescued from the luxury liner SS Columbus in 1939. There were also 31 German-Americans and 17 Japanese-Americans who had been arrested as “enemy aliens”. It later functioned as a training school for the mentally disabled, a low security women’s prison, and a juvenile rehabilitation center.
On August 9, 2007, Fort Stanton was designated a state historic site and funds were allocated for its restoration. It contains 88 buildings situated on 240 acres.
Visiting
Fort Stanton Historic Site is open 10am to 4pm from Thursday to Monday. Adult admission is US$7 per person and free for children 16 years and younger (as of September 2023). There’s a nine-minute orientation film and a handful of the buildings are open to visitors.
Free docent-led tours are available on weekends at 11am and 2pm, weather and staff permitting. Events, including living history events and reenactments, are programmed regularly throughout the year. The grounds are open free of charge seven days a week from 8am to 5pm.
Museum
We started our exploration of Fort Stanton Historic Site at the museum, which was once the Hospital Administration building. Before that, the building served as a barracks.
The museum contains a history of Fort Stanton with authentic artifacts on display as well as representations of everyday life at the fort.
One of the most interesting exhibits includes photographs and the story of the German detainees held at the fort during World War II. The exhibit details life for the detainees at Fort Stanton after they were rescued from the aforementioned SS Columbus.
Barracks
After the museum, we began to explore the buildings around and just off the Parade Ground. We went in a counter-clockwise direction, starting with the barracks.
We were able to enter the barracks to see a replica bunk room. Each bed was decorated with items likely to have been used by a soldier, such as uniforms and personal effects.
Behind the barracks were the Community House and the Fort Laundress’ Quarters. The Fort Laundress’ Quarters were built in 1876. Neither were open to the public.
Marine Hospital #9
To the left of the Barracks was Marine Hospital #9. It was built in 1936 and had the first electric elevator in New Mexico.
Officers’ Quarters
Continuing around the Parade Ground were buildings containing the Officers’ Quarters. First was Officers’ Quarters #4, which was built in 1855.
Turning the corner was Officers’ Quarters #3, built in 1883.
Next was the Commanding Officers’ Quarters, which was built in 1877, then the Cafeteria, built in 1984.
Catholic Chapel
Behind Officers’ Quarters #3 was the Catholic Chapel. The chapel, which was built in 1943, was open to the public.
Officers’ Quarters #13
On the next corner was Officers’ Quarters #13, which was open to the public. It was slated to become an office building, but even though work had begun, it remains in an unrenovated state. The building is original to the fort when it opened in 1855.
We were able to walk around and see where construction crews had torn walls away to add electricity and plumbing to the building. There was also a hole in one wall where a doorway was supposed to be created.
Nurses’ Quarters
Just past Officers’ Quarters #13 were the Nurses’ Quarters, which were added to the fort in 1941. It was a U-shaped adobe building with a central courtyard. The building was open to the public and contained historic photographs.
Fort Administration
Finally, the last two buildings on the south side of the Parade Ground before finishing the loop back to the museum were the Fort Administration building and Guard House, built in 1877 and 1879 respectively. Neither were open to the public.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed walking through Fort Stanton. We had the entire fort to ourselves, which was nice. I’d like to return one day to explore more of the grounds and the cemetery.
