• Donate
    • Donate
    • Member Circles and Benefits
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Today
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • Student Membership
  • Take Action
    • Volunteer Program
    • Make Your Voice Heard
  • About
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • What We Do
    • Position Papers
    • Team & People
    • Job Openings
    • Partners & Friends
    • Annual Reports
    • Policies & Financials
  • Things to Do
    • Events
    • Archaeology Café
    • Exhibits
    • Classes
    • Field School
  • Explore
    • Free Resources
    • Introduction to Southwestern Archaeology
    • Projects
    • Protection Efforts
    • Ancient Cultures
    • Videos
    • Places to Visit
  • Store
    • Archaeology Southwest Magazine
    • All Products
  • News
    • Blog
    • Press Releases/Announcements
    • Preservation Archaeology Today
    • Sign up for E-News
  • Donate
    • Donate
    • Member Circles and Benefits
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Today
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • Student Membership
  • Take Action
    • Volunteer Program
    • Make Your Voice Heard
X
  • About
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • What We Do
    • Position Papers
    • Team & People
    • Job Openings
    • Partners & Friends
    • Annual Reports
    • Policies & Financials
  • Things to Do
    • Events
    • Archaeology Café
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Exhibits
    • Classes
    • Field School
  • Explore
    • Free Resources
    • SW Archaeology 101
    • Projects
    • Protection Efforts
    • Ancient Cultures
    • Videos
    • Places to Visit
  • Store
    • Archaeology Southwest Magazine
    • All Products
  • News
    • Blog
    • Press Releases/Announcements
    • Preservation Archaeology Today
    • Sign up for E-News

Fort Union National Monument

New Mexico
  • Home
  • >
  • Locations
  • >
  • Fort Union National Monument

Banner image: Third Fort Union Military Prison, courtesy of the Fort Union National Monument

First situated near the junction of the Mountain and Cimarron Branches of the Santa Fe Trail, Fort Union (1851–1891) was one of the largest military installations in the New Mexico Territory. The location of the fort shifted three times during its commission (1851–1861, 1861–1862, 1862–1891). Notably, the second installation was an earthen star fort. Once the central supply hub for New Mexico posts, the third iteration of the fort waned after the arrival of the railroad in 1879.

Soldiers from Fort Union joined forces with New Mexico and Colorado Volunteers and headed south to meet the Confederate Army for the Battle of Glorieta Pass (March 26–28, 1862). It turned out to be the decisive battle in the New Mexico Campaign during the Civil War in the West.

Details

see more pictures

Fort Union National Monument

Get Directions
Fort Union National Monument, P.O. Box 127, Watrous NM 87753 (mailing address)
Not loading? Make sure location services are enabled on your device and browser.
Type of place:
Historic military installations
Ownership:
National Park Service
Contact:
Fort Union National Monument, P.O. Box 127, Watrous NM 87753 (mailing address)
Telephone:
(505) 425-8025
Website:
Fort Union
Hours:
Labor Day - Memorial Day, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Memorial Day - Labor Day, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Guided tours:
Yes
Entrance fee:
No
Nearby heritage sites:
Pecos National Historical Park

Want to help us? Make a donation

or take action

Cyber SouthwestRespect Great BendHands-On ArchaeologySave History

© 2025 Archaeology Southwest

520.882.6946
Contact
  • My Store Account
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Press Room