Fort Union National Monument

Fort Union National Monument
Fort Union Ruins
Map showing the location of Fort Union National Monument
Map showing the location of Fort Union National Monument
Map showing the location of Fort Union National Monument
Map showing the location of Fort Union National Monument
LocationMora County, New Mexico, U.S.
Nearest cityWatrous, New Mexico
Coordinates35°54′25″N 105°00′54″W / 35.907°N 105.015°W / 35.907; -105.015[1]
Area720.6 acres (291.6 ha)[2]
EstablishedJune 28, 1954 (1954-June-28)
Visitors9,570 (in 2023)[3]
Governing bodyNational Park Service
WebsiteFort Union National Monument
Fort Union National Monument
Built1851 (1851)
NRHP reference No.66000044[4]
NMSRCP No.61
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966
Designated NMSRCPMay 23, 1969

Fort Union National Monument is a unit of the United States National Park Service located 7.7 miles north of Watrous in Mora County, New Mexico.

The site preserves the remains of three forts that were built starting in the 1850s. Also visible at Fort Union and from the road leading to it are ruts from the Mountain and Cimarron Branches of the old Santa Fe Trail.

The National Monument has a visitor center containing a historical museum and showing a film about the fort’s history. A self-guiding trail leads through remains of the second and third forts. Ruins of the ordnance depot and site of the first fort are visible across the valley to the west.

The National Monument is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. throughout the year except Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November), Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year’s Day (January 1). Admission is free.

  1. ^ "Fort Union National Monument". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  2. ^ "Annual Report of Lands as of September 30, 2011" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  3. ^ "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.