Clockwise
from Upper Left: Old Mesilla, Organ Mountains above Las Cruces, and Chili
Ristras in Hatch, New Mexico
WELCOME TO THE DOÑA ANA COUNTY, NMGenWeb PROJECT
MILITARY
| FORT SELDEN |
| Fort
Selden was established in 1865 in an effort 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 U.S. Infantry
and Cavalry. Their intent was to protect settlers and travelers
in the Mesilla Valley from desperados and Apache Indians. Several
of the units stationed at the fort were black troopers, referred
to as Buffalo Soldiers. A young Douglas Mac Arthur called the fort
home while his father was post commander in the late 1880s.
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 the stark adobe brick walls of the frontier past evoke a feeling of personal connection to the past. A visitor center offers exhibits on frontier and military life. Living history demonstrations are occasionally offered on weekends from 1-4 pm, May 1-Sept. 15. Call for programming and special event dates. Location |
| Fort Selden Soldiers - Surnames A - J |
| Fort Selden Soldiers - Surnmaes K - Z |
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A big thank you to Elsa Altshool, the founding volunteer of this site. Return to Home Page This site © Copyrighted 2008 to present for the benefit of the NMGenWeb Project. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed Dona Ana County Coordinator. |
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