Fort Union
National Monument

Fort Union was established in 1851 by Lieutenant Colonel Edwin V. Sumner as a guardian and protector of the Santa Fe Trail. During it's forty-year history, three different forts were constructed close together. The third and final Fort Union was the largest in the American Southwest, and functioned as a military garrison, territorial arsenal, and military supply depot for the southwest. Today, visitors use a self-guided tour path to visit the second fort and the large, impressive ruins of the third Fort Union. The largest visible network of Santa Fe Trail ruts can be seen here.

VISITATION:

Highest in July and August; lowest in January and February.

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LOCATION:

Watrous, New Mexico

ADDRESS:

Fort Union National Monument
P.O. Box 127
Watrous, NM 87753

TELEPHONE:

(505) 425-8025

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

Open daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p. m.; winter: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed December 25, January 1.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Sunny year-round with semi-arid conditions. July's average high is 85 degrees, low is 51 degrees. January's average high is 47 degrees, low is 16 degrees. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

DIRECTIONS:

Travelers on Interstate 25, use exit 366. Follow the signs to Fort Union National Monument, eight miles off the interstate on New Mexico SR 161.

TRANSPORTATION:

To Park: access by Interstate 25 and New Mexico SR 161

FEES, COSTS, RATES:

Entrance fee is $2.00 per adult or $4.00 per carload.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Visitor Center/Exhibits:
The visitor center exhibits tell of the construction of the three forts, the frontier army at Fort Union, the New Mexico volunteers, the Civil War in New Mexico, and the Santa Fe Trail.

Trails, Roads:
A 1.6 mile, self-guided interpretive trail enables visitors to tour the ruins.

Programs/Activities:
During the summer living history talks and demonstrations are offered on weekends. Groups numbering ten or more, interested in a formal guided tour, may make advance reservations.

Lodging and camping facilities:
None in park. Lodging and camping available in the nearby city of Las Vegas, New Mexico, 28 miles southwest of the park.

Food/supplies:
Picnic tables are available.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:
A sales area located inside the visitor center is operated by the Southwest Parks And Monuments Association, and carries a wide selection of New Mexico history, western women's history, and frontier military history books. Titles and price lists are available on request.

Accessibility:
The monument is accessible and a park wheelchair is available for loan.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

Take the self-guided walking tour and visit the museum.

RESERVATION/PERMITS:

Advance group reservations for ten or more are recommended.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Allow two hours for visit.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Capulin Volcano National Monument, Capulin, New Mexico;
Pecos National Historical Park, Pecos, New Mexico.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

JUNE
First Fort Site Open: a rare opportunity to visit the site of the First Fort Union (1851-1861). Open to the public only once a year by tour.

JULY
Cultural Encounters on the Sante Fe Trail: a living history camp, talks and demonstrations will be offered by soldiers, frontier women, teamsters, traders and a host of others, as these historic figures tell of their cultures and life on the Santa Fe Trail.

AUGUST
An Evening at Fort Union: experience Fort Union's past on an evening walk through the ghostly ruins. Scenes of past times at the fort will be re-created. Free, but reservations are required.

Call (505) 425-8025 for specific dates and times for all the above listed events.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write
Fort Union National Monument,
P.O. Box 127,
Watrous, NM 87753
or call 505- 425-8025