Fort Cummings once upon a time

This Event Has Been Cancelled. Forecast for rain in the area on Saturday means impassable roads. We will re-schedule.

Join Bureau of Land Management Archaeologist Cody Dalpra on a tour of the historic Fort Cummings north of Deming, NM. The tour will encompass the cemetery (that once held 58 internments), the fort remnants, and a short walk/hike to the historic Spring House and horse corral. This will be an easy 1 mile hike. We will meet at the 5R Travel Center in Deming, NM (MAP) at 10 am and will caravan from there. Mr. Dalpra will be in a White Jeep Grand Cherokee with Federal Government license plates. To get to the site high clearance vehicles are required, although, 4 wheel drive is not necessary. Carpooling is possible. Make sure to bring good shoes, water, and sun protection.

Fort Cummings was established in 1863 in part to protect the Southern Overland Route (previously known as the Butterfield Overland Stage Route 1858-1861) and as a post during the Apache Wars. Fort Cummings is listed on the State Register of Historic Places (SR-35) seeing several US Army campaigns and battles mounted from the fort that resulted in numerous Medal of Honor awards. The fort had a varied history, even housed Buffalo Solders for a time. Once a rectangular fort 320 x 366 feet and surrounded by 10 foot tall abode walls, the fort is now in ruins. The fort was abandoned in 1891 after the conclusion of the Apache Wars. This tour will recount some of the historical events the fort saw during this formative time in Southwest and American history.   

Fort Cummings Today