Fort Bowie Arizona - National Historic Site - Geronimo - Cochise

Fort Bowie is not far from where we are staying and was one of the more notable forts in the 1862-1890 timeframe.  It was established to control Apache Pass which was a prime route for westward migration and Apache Pass Spring, the only reliable source of water within 50 miles.  It was the site of several engagements with the Apaches under Cochise and Geronimo. The fort was named in honor of Colonel George Washington Bowie commander of the 5th Regiment California Infantry who first established the fort.

 Fort Bowie at the height of its development in the early 1890's (photo of a National Parks brochure)

Stage Station Ruin

The Cemetary

Burial place of Geronimo's son

Many of the ruins walls are capped with adobe to prevent further erosion

Ruins of the enlisted men's barracks

Another view of the barracks

Reproduction Indian camp

This is a high desert area with lots of cactus

Similar viewpoint to the following 1800's photo

The powder magazine - mostly intact due to the thick walls

Icehouse ruins

Remains of a portion of the emigrant trail

More ruins - new visitor center in the background on left - it is located where the horse stables were originally

Cistern

View of the remains of the fort from an adjacent ridge - it doesn't look like it but this was a pretty steep climb

The US flag on the parade grounds located on the spot of the original flag

This was quite an interesting National Historic Site that not a lot of people get to see as it is off the beaten path and it takes some effort to hike up here.  It ends up being about a 4-mile hike - 3 miles up and back and about an additional mile seeing the grounds.

Las Cruces, NM, 40 Ft. Road Runner, Old Mesilla, NM

We have moved from Cactus Rose RV Park in Texas to Mountain View RV Park in Bowie, Arizona with stops in Lamesa, TX, Hackberry Lake Recreation Area in Carlsbad, New Mexico and Western Skys RV Park in Vado, New Mexico.  While at Western Skys we spent part of a day in the Las Cruces, New Mexico area.

Our site at Lamesa, TX - free camping at the city park with water and electric hook-ups

Our site at Hackberry Lake Recreation Area near Carlsbad, NM - free camping on BLM land

An oil rig on BLM land near the camping area

Sunset in the desert the first night

Sunset in the desert the second night

40' by 20' roadrunner sculpture near Las Cruces, NM made entirely of scrap materials - amazingly realistic from a distance

Las Cruces, NM and the Organ Mountains in the background

The sculpture is made of old sneakers, electronic parts, crutches, etc

Legs are made of strips of old tires

We visited "Old Mesilla Village" the original settlement at Las Cruces that features original architecture from the mid to late 1800's

Basilica Of San Albino 

Town Square

Original stick ceilings in the Thunderbird de la Mesilla

1800's architecture

The old courthouse (now a gift shop) where Billy The Kid was brought by Sherriff Pat Garrett to be put on trial for murder in 1880.  Billy was convicted and sentenced to hang but later escaped after being transported to Lincoln, New Mexico.

More typical architecture

Western Skys RV Park - Vado, NM

Our site at Western Skys RV Park - pretty close quarters

Our current location at Mountain View RV Park in Bowie, Arizona (not far from Fort Bowie - a noted fort in the area - (see the next blog - coming soon)