fort union national monument

We were attracted to Fort Union from I-25 near Watrous, NM by the sign that indicated that Wagon Wheel Ruts from the westward journeying wagon trains could still be seen here. They alone were worth stopping for. Eight miles further west along a well kept road lies the fort itself. At first it's quite distant and one had the feeling of how it must have been for the men of the day arriving there. There is a very nice Visitors Center with ample parking, picnic grounds, a gift shop and theater where an historical film can be viewed. And clean, well kept restrooms. And then one is free to wander the grounds. Fort Union was historically significant because it was located far enough away from the city (Santa Fe) to keep the men from wandering, and close enough to the Indians. In 1862, the Army and the Fort's location were instrumental in halting a Confederate Army invasion at the battle of Glorieta Pass.Only the foundations of the buildings are visible now, except for the hospital, which was one of the best hospitals in all the West during it's day. We found Suds Row to be interesting as well. Women were allowed to join their men and raise their families together here if the woman would sign on to be a military laundress. She would draw pay for this and the families could live in a one room home.We visited in December and a winter storm was blowing in. It became quite cold and windy and there was nothing there to stop the gale, so we were unable to spend as much time there as we would have liked.I recommend this fort for families as it's not hard to imagine what things might have been like and there is lots of room to run.

A you drive around a hill a vision of something on the horizon captures your attention. You are still too far away to recognize what you seeing, but the closer you get the more eerie the scene becomes. These are the ruins of one of the most important military posts in the Southwest with a record of medical help to the people of the area and soldiers worthy of our best medical facilities today. Fort Union was just barely saved from destruction, but there is more than enough for visitors to begin seeing the life in isolated frontier posts. This is one of several amazing historical sites to see in a U-shaped drive covering about one hundred miles. Not to be missed.

Hauntingly, desolately beautiful. The day we visited, it was terribly cold and windy, so we only viewed the ruins from afar - which probably added to the slight feeling of eeriness. Great little museum, though - and I do want to go back for one of their events as described by the employees!

Exposed to the wind, within a sweeping valley of short grass prairie, amid the swales of the Santa Fe Trail, lie the territorial-style adobe remnants of the largest 19th century military fort in the region. For forty years, 1851-1891, Fort Union functioned as an agent of political and cultural change, whether desired or not, in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest.Don't miss seeing the Arsenal out on the other side of the road.

As my husband and I were headed from Santa Fe to Colorado he decided to take a side trip to Ft. Union. I am not much of a history buff, but I must say I thouroughly enjoyed this stop. We were about the only ones there on a beautiful November day. It doesn't take long to see and it was nice to be able to get out walk around. A beautiful place for picture taking.

My family and I visited Fort Union National Monument in early October 2014. It is located a few miles off of I-25 and is well marked on the highway. There is a visitor center which shows interesting information related to not only this specific fort, but of the Santa Fe Trail as a whole as well as other forts along the way. The visitor center is not too large, but the more important stuff is out back anyways. Outside includes trail ruts, a trail wagon, and of course fort ruins. The ruins range from needing to use your imagination to obvious. Plaques along the way help you envision how the buildings once looked as well as informed you how life was like living there. There is a long and short route, both flat, and the short route is handicap accessible (long route might be, but we didn't go this way). I would recommend this to anyone interested in local history, and those interested in history from this period. Also, there is a shaded picnic area in front of the visitor's center. Finally, admission here is good for Pecos (or vice versa) as well.

A few miles off I-25 northeast of Las Vegas, NM. This is the large ruin of Fort Union on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. The grounds are well maintained. On the road going in to the monument are roadside interpretive sites for the Santa Fe Trail: the original trail ruts and and a scenic overlook in the area of the fort. After checking in at the visitor center (fee also covers Pecos NHP near Santa Fe, or show your receipt from Pecos to save a few bucks), I got my official map and guide brochure and the National Park passport stamps. Reserve at least an hour to walk the grounds of this old fort in grassy mountain country. I went faster and took a lot of pictures, but that's just me on a tight schedule. I saw a flock of sandhill cranes flying and honking in an ever-changing V formation.

This had a great interpretative trail of the Fort. They are working hard to preserve the fort remains. The Santa Fe Trail ran right through this area. They have a great museum with great civil war era artifacts. The largest fort I have ever seen still standing.

Stopped by on my way to Santa Fe. There is a small museum in the visitor's center that shows several artifacts. It gives you an idea of what life was like here. The original buildings are in ruins, but the visitor's guide shows you a drawing of what the fort looked like while in use. I had no idea that Fort Bliss in Texas tried to take over New Mexico for trade and routes to gold in California. The soldiers stationed here helped defend the state. Overall, an interesting place to stop.

It took some time to get to this place and there needs to be more work done at this important bastion which kept the West in Union during the Civil War. Small battles have major impacts on history. O, how the wind blows on the high plains.

Visitor Center very nice and clean. Ranger friendly. Watch the film before you venture out to the self guided tour. Wish there was more but it showed you how they lived and what they endured. Worth the drive. Walking tour around the site where the fort was.

Wish it was more than ruins - what a life line to the west this supply fort must have been - supplying men, equipment and provisions for New Mexico, Southern Colorado, and the Santa Fe Trail Stop. Well done, and worth the stop.

my family has always enjoyed this special place. it is so quiet. you can imagine the wagons from the santa fe trail coming into view over the horizon. the parade grounds are well worn where many a march was held. when we were there, the sound system provided sounds of being there, complete with the soldiers laughing. when you drive up to the fort, you can see ruts from the wagon train and buffalo wallows. it's easy to imagine the isolation the women felt while there with their husbands or is some cases fathers.

The visitor center has a 15 minute film with a brief history of Fort Union narrated in an engaging manner. By all means watch this film first! Self-guided walking tour with a long and short version. Some of the best photo ops are in the Mechanics Corral (toward the rear of the complex) old wagons and wagon wheels stand inside the corral. The is a $3 per person entrance fee unless you have a National Parks pass. When driving north on I-25 you are on top of the Fort Union exit before you know it. (yes. . . we missed the exit, had to use the "official use only" cut-thru to turn around) After exiting, it is 8 miles to the Fort.

The drive in to Fort Union from I-25 is beautiful and very interesting--wildlife and wagon wheel ruts along the Santa Fe Trail. This attraction does not appear very well known and that's a pity. It is well worth a side trip. The fort, of which there were three iterations, is in ruins, but the film is excellent and the Visitor's Center has several fine interpretive exhibits. You can follow a trail for a bit more than a mile to see the remains for several buildings of the third fort and the footprint of the Civil War defensive fort. The rangers are very knowledgeable, and there are many excellent books on New Mexico history and tourism for sale.