Fort Stanton State Historic Site
The Fort Stanton State Historic Site is a must-see historic attraction when visiting Lincoln County. Few sites in the nation encompass the breadth of history seen at the Fort.
Officer Quarters at Fort Stanton Historic Site
Early cultures lived along the Bonito River, leaving behind rich archeological evidence of human occupation. Spanish and Mexican settlers established communities in the nearby area, long before the United States sent the military west to protect settlers journeying to the region from the indigenous Apache Indians who claimed the lands as their own. The Fort was established in 1855 and operated as a military fortification through 1896.
The annual Fort Stanton LIVE event in July brings costumed reenactors from the Civil War and Indian Wars era to the Fort for demonstrations, presentations, concert and a military ball.
To learn more, visit NMHistoricSites.org or FortStanton.org
Location:
Fort Stanton is located just off the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway (Hwy 380) on Hwy 220 at the Bonito River. The turnoff to Hwy 220 is 4 miles southeast of Capitan on the Byway or 10 miles west of Lincoln, NM.