Fort Union National Monument | |
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Fort Union Ruins | |
Location | Mora County, New Mexico, U.S. |
Nearest city | Watrous, New Mexico |
Coordinates | 35°54′25″N 105°00′54″W / 35.907°N 105.015°W[1] |
Area | 720.6 acres (291.6 ha)[2] |
Established | June 28, 1954 |
Visitors | 9,570 (in 2023)[3] |
Governing body | National Park Service |
Website | Fort Union National Monument |
Fort Union National Monument | |
Built | 1851 |
NRHP reference No. | 66000044[4] |
NMSRCP No. | 61 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Designated NMSRCP | May 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 1850’s. 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.