Fort Stanton and Capitan

Event date: Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019

After our tour of Lincoln, we drove a few miles up US 380 to Fort Stanton. The post was established in 1855 as part of the campaign against the Mescalero Apaches. It also witness some action during the American Civil War when Confederate troops from Texas attempted to secure New Mexico and the West for the Confederacy. Later, it also had a minor role in the Lincoln County War.

Over the years, the fort served numerous purposes, including a tuberculosis hospital in the early years of the 20th century and as an internment camp during World War II. After the war, the fort became the property of the state of New Mexico. In the ensuing years, it saw service as a hospital for the "mentally challenged" and later as a women's low security correctional facility. Today it serves as a museum and is designated as a New Mexico State Monument.

First stop at Fort Stanton should be the Museum and Visitor's Center, erected in 1855 as barracks for enlisted me. The center contains numerous exhibits and information that will guide you through the remainder of your tour. More than a dozen buildings are open to the public. If old military posts are your thing, you can probably spend several hours here.

Fort Stanton Museum and Visitors' Center

Cavalry exhibit in Visitors' Center

Quadrangle at post

Barracks

Room in hospital building

Trees and buildings laid out with military precision.

The Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area is located nearby. A room in the Fort Stanton Visitors' Center is devoted to the cave. The Conservation Area includes over 100 miles of multi-use trails. Wow! I could spend some time here.

After our visit to the fort, we continued our drive up US 380 to the small town of Capitan. We enjoyed green chile cheeseburgers at Oso Grill, which won first place in the New Mexico State Fair's Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge in 2018.

After the burgers, we moseyed across the street to visit the Smokey Bear Historical Park. Although most folks are familiar with Smokey Bear (note that it is NOT Smokey THE Bear), few are aware that there was an actual bear that served as the living symbol for this campaign to prevent forest fires. The actual Smokey Bear campaign was already in place when a 5 pound, three month old bear cub was found in 1950 after the Capitan Gap Fire. The small cub, whose legs had been burned, was rescued by local fire crews. At first, the cub was known as Hotfoot Teddy, but later his name was changed to that of the fire campaign icon.

Smokey soon became a national celebrity, and he was shipped to the National Zoo in D.C. where he lived for 26 years. Smokey died November 9, 1976, and his remains were shipped to Capitan where he is buried.

Exterior of Smokey Bear Museum

Image of Smokey most of us recognize from the "prevent forest fires" campaign.

This shows how little Smokey was found after the Capitan Fire by fire fighting crews -- up a charred tree with injured feet.

Smokey's final resting place is under this rock, hauled from the mountains where he was found as a frightened cub. The caption says: "This is the resting place of the first living Smokey Bear. In 1950 when Smokey was a tiny cub, wildfire burned his forest home in the nearby Capitan Mountains of the Lincoln National Forest. Firefighters found the badly burned cub clinging to a blackened tree and saved his life. In June 1950, the cub was flown to our Nation's Capitol to become the living symbol of wildfire prevention and wildlife conservation. After 25 years, he was replaced by another orphaned black bear from the Lincoln National Forest."

After paying our respects to Smokey, Donna and I returned to Ruidoso, passing through some beautiful mountain country around Alto. Rain began falling as we entered the northern part of Ruidoso.