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Fort Selden |
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The U. S. government established Fort Selden in April 1865 on the site of a key paraje (campsite) at the south end of the Jornada del Muerto, a perilous desert passage on the Camino Real. As occurred at several other forts, soldiers used sun-dried mud bricks, called adobe, to construct the Fort. These earthen buildings housed units of U.S. infantry and cavalry. Connected to a string of forts throughout the Southwest, a soldier's life was one of constant movement between posts and many called Fort Selden home. In the late 1880's Arthur MacArthur, a Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, was post commander. His son Douglas, who was 4 years old at the time his father commanded the Fort, later referred to his childhood at Fort Selden as the best years of his life. Douglas went on to become a general who received the Medal of Honor for his distinguished actions in the Pacific Theater of WWII.
Fort Selden became a State monument in 1972. It is located 13 miles north of Las Cruces at Exit 19 off I-25. The monument is open daily 8:30 am - 5 pm but closed Tuesdays. For further information, call (505) 526-8911 or click here.
Fort Selden has a friends group -- to access click Friends of Fort Selden.