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GRANT COUNTY SILVER CITY GRANT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 201 N. Hudson • Silver City, NM 88061 (505) 538-3785 • 1-800-548-9378 Web: www.silvercity.org Email: [email protected] Special funding from the Grant County Lodgers Tax. BBIIEENVENNIIDOOS S

WWIILLKKOOMMMEEN N WELCOME TO Some of the WELCOME TO most historic happenings of the Southwest await you at SILVER CITY the Silver City Museum. We hope your stay will be enjoyable. Let us know if we can make your visit more memorable. We’re proud of our multi-cultural community . . . with our Four Gentle Seasons and warm hospitality. You’ll be attracted to the wonders of two nations, the many ancient cultures, and climate zones, ranging from 4000 to 10,000 feet. Browse through these pages . . . and be prepared to have your expectations exceeded! n o t r Silver City Grant County u l B e i

k Chamber of Commerce c a J

: 201 N. Hudson Street o t o h

P Silver City, NM 88061 • (505) 538-3785 [email protected] y

a www.silvercity.org m e L

Walk through history along h t i 1-800-548-9378 e K :

the streets of old mining o t o h towns. Dance with the P ghosts of dancehall girls and miners attired in their finest. Mines like the Little Fanney, the Princess, the Bullfrog. . . GRANT COUNTY make history come alive. Edited by Keith LeMay Designed by Zia Publishing Photos by Joe Burgess unless otherwise noted. Funded in part by Grant County Lodgers Tax

2 † Over 20 birding areas TableofContents Historic Silver City Area Scenic Tours

4-7 Silver City Day Trip 1 Silver City and its wonderful history will come to life, as you travel with us on your tour. Standing like 8-14 Trail of the Mountain Spirits giants in the Scenic Byway Day Trip 2 vast greatness Follow the footsteps of the prehistoric cultures— of Southwest Apaches, Spanish explorers, Mexican farmers, miners—those who walked this area. New Mexico 8 Pinos Altos Day Trip 1B are the natural Walk through the 1860’s in this historic mining town in tall pine country. monuments 9-11, 17 Gila Cliff Dwellings Day Trip 2 known as the City of Rocks. Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway Jump back 700 years in history as you walk through the cave homes of the ancient Mogollon Indians. 13-18 Features & Events Day Trips 4&5 Three million acres of national forest, golfing, tennis, birding, hiking, art galleries, rockhounding — an invigorating opportunity & memorable experience. Info on Day Trips 4 & 5. 7, 12 Maps Tour maps of Silver City, Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byways, Gila High Country (Glenwood/Mogollon) 21 Mimbres An ancient culture walked these river banks, grew crops—and disappeared. Today, modern life thrives. 21 City of Rocks As you walk through the Gila Cliff Dwellings, you can almost imagine what it would have been like to live here so many years ago. Bring a vivid imagination when you’re among these beautiful weather-carved giants. WILLKOMMEN nach Silberstadt! Wir hoffen dass sich ihr Besuch lohnen wird. 20-23 Gila High Country Day Trip 3 Vor Millionen von Jahren geschmolzene Felsen lagerten Auslaeufer von Kupfer, Silber und Gold hier ab, und machten diese Gegend die reichste des Suedwestens. The Catwalk is a must—Whitewater Creek frothing far below you, rushing through the narrow canyon. Die ersten Indianer bauten Tuerkis ab, und in 1804 gruben die Spanier Kupfer. In 1870 endeckten amerikanische Schuerfer Silber in den Bergen. 24-25 Mining Day Trip 6 Silberstadt nutzte ihr trockenes und hohes Klima aus und oeffnete einige Copper mining from open pit to pure copper. View Sanatorien. Allmaehlich wurden mehr Mineralentdeckungen in der Umgebung 200-ton trucks, giant shovels, & modern technology. gemacht. Silberstadt wurde das Zentrum des Handels. Wir hoffen dass Sie unsere Gegend geniessen werden! Auf baldiges 25 Ft. Bayard Wiedersehen! From Buffalo Soldiers to tuberculosis sanatorium to ¡BIENVENIDOS a la Ciudad de Plata! Esperamos que encuentres que tu veteran and geriatric care—giving service since 1863. visita valga la pena. Hace milliones de años que piedra fundida llevó concentraciones de cobre, plata 26-27 Billy the Kid y oro a la superficie aquí, e hizo esta area una de la más ricas del Sudoeste. Los In school, Billy grew up as a normal boy . . . and primeros indios minaron la turquesa. En 1804 los españoles minaron el cobre. En then something changed. 1870 buscadores americanos descubrieron plata en las montañas. 27 Other Famous Names La Ciudad de Plata aprovechó su clima seco y altura. Gradualmente se hicieron descubrimientos de más minerales en el área. La Ciudad de Plata se volvió un Roosevelt, Hearst, Geronimo, Billy the Kid, centro de comercio. Kit Carson, Cochise, Astronaut Jack Schmitt . . . Esperamos que disfrutes nuestra area. Y que vuelvas pronto.

3 Silver City In 1870, a group of American prospectors discovered silver in the hil just above the cienega (marshy area), and the rush was on. In ten short months, the newly-christened Silver City grew from a single cabin to DAY TRIP 1 - will take you through the historic section of Silver City and on to the old mining town of Pinos Altos with a side trip to the Phelps Dodge Tyrone Open pit mine. MAP PAGE 7

Big Ditch Park (Site 10) with Warren house (Site #15) in background illions of years ago, fingers of way to the Mexico border. market. Mines closed down. Silver City molten rock deposited the cop- In spite of the crude methods, Silver paused, caught its breath, and then M per, silver and gold that would City mills were producing $16,000 of moved ahead. The use of brick was make this one of the Southwest’s bullion a week by 1875. encouraged by an 1880 fire ordinance richest mineralized areas. Early Indians It soon became the supply center for which prohibited frame construction, mined turquoise, and by 1804 the the booming industry. By the end of saving Silver City from the destructive Spanish were digging for copper east of 1872, a local brick plant enabled solid, fires of many western towns. Perhaps its what came to be called the San Vicente well-built businesses and houses to be sturdy brick architecture helped it defy a Ciénega (today’s Silver City). built. In 1875, the first fire engine in ghost town’s fate. Maybe it was the Silver Discovered. In the spring of the NM Territory made it possible for populace of Hispanics and Anglos, 1870, the news reached Pinos Altos of a a volunteer fire department to be determined to make this their home. formed. When the government The cattle industry was well-developed Boys, if this is whattelegraph line reached Fort Bayard in with some large holdings extending as silver looks like, we 1876, local citizens furnished the far south as Mexico. At the turn of the have plenty at home . m.ate. rials to connect Silver City with century, Silver City’s high, dry climate the outside world. made it a haven for invalids and Silver City Charter. In 1878 Silver tubercular patients. One of the state’s big silver strike at Shakespeare, near City was granted a territorial charter first teaching schools prospered. Event- today’s Lordsburg. under which the town operates today, ually, with new mineral discoveries, the Captain John Bullard and his men one of the oldest of the few territorial town stabilized as the leading metal producer in the state. rode south to investigate. After exam- ...the charter allows us mining the ore, one of the men said, — edited from Helen Lundwall history The Big Ditch (Site 1-10). After “Boys, if this is what silver looks like, to tax, operate bawdy July 21, 1895, Silver City’s Main Street we have plenty of it at home.” They houses, gambling... was no longer the principal artery. hurried back, and began to dig one half — current 1878 Territorial CharFtloeor dwaters engulfed the streets as “an mile west of the present courthouse. immense wall of rolling water, 12' high Ore from the Legal Tender assayed as charters in the U.S. The city was one of and 300’ across, roared through the heart high as 100 ounces of silver per ton, a the first to establish a public school, and of town.” By the next morning, the real bonanza. News of the “Ciénega in 1882, became the first independent Mines” quickly spread. school district in New Mexico . Town of Silver City Originated. In The Southern Pacific Railroad ten short months, Silver City grew from reached Deming in 1881, inspiring HIGHLIGHTS a single cabin to over eighty buildings, local citizens to build a branch line to Billy the Kid sites (4, 5, 21, 23) and in 1871, Silver City became the Silver City. Telephones were first Tyrone Mine (8) county seat. During the early years of installed in 1883. An electric light plant Historic downtown (10) development, all of southwestern New was completed the following year— Big Ditch Park (10) Mexico was harassed by Apache raids. only two years after New York City Silver City Museum (12) WNMU Museum (18) The nearest railroad terminal was in installed its first electric system. Western NM University (19) Colorado. The county included what is Silver City Boom Over! In 1893 the today’s Deming and Lordsburg all the bottom dropped out of the silver

4 Center) Billy the Kid spent part of his childhood here, in a cabin with his mother, brother, and stepfather. It was torn down by 1894; 1895-1903 floods destroyed the original site. Adjacent to Visitors Center. The cabin of that era sitting here was donated by Ron Howard’s 2003 movie, “The Missing.” 5. Star Hotel Site. (South across the street from Visitors Center.) Billy the Kid waited tables when he lived here with the Truesdell family following his mother’s death. 6. Carrasco Mill Site. (to SW of Site #5) Lorenzo Carrasco had one of the Silver City Museum (Site #12) first ore-grinding mills, which handled ore from Silver City, Pinos Altos and waters had receded and local residents Comm. (201 N. Hudson, NM 90). other mines. saw a monstrous ditch 35 feet below the 2. McComas House Site. (500 N. Turn right (west) onto Broadway to street level. Later floods, especially one Hudson.) Judge H.C. McComas (site 9) Site #10. OPTIONAL TRIP. Sites 7-9 in 1903, scraped the ditch down to in the early 1880’s lived on the north end on NM 90 to the south... a look at history of present post office site. After the and copper mining. ...with brick & adobef,loods, this area became Silver City’s 7. Harrison Schmitt School. famous red light district for 60 years into they escaped (M40.5, NM90) Silver City’s Apollo 17 the late 1960’s, then known as “Millie’s.” destructive astronaut/geologist, Harrison “Jack” 3. Billy the Kid/Jail Site. (304 N. Schmitt, later US Senator, was chosen frontier fires. Hudson) These U.S. Forest Service for the Apollo 17 moon exploration. bedrock at 55 feet. The excavation ran warehouses are on the site of the jail about 15 miles. where in 1875 Billy the Kid, 15, was Apollo 17 astronaut/ held for stealing from a Chinese Changes Caused. Before the floods, geologist Jack Schmitt commerce was about equal on either laundry. He escaped out the chimney. walked on the moon . . side of Main Street. After the creation Did Billy kill his first of the Big Ditch, a number of . “entertainment parlors” moved onto man in Silver City? 8. Old Tyrone/Phelps Dodge Hudson Street. Legend suggests Billy killed his first man Copper Electrowinning Plant. (M32, Why Did It Happen? Ground or knifed a Chinaman at several sites. No NM 90) Phelps Dodge & Company cover absorbed and delayed earlier evidence can be found. See sites 4, 5 21, consolidated its holdings beginning in flood runoff. By 1895, livestock and 23, and the “Billy the Kid” Tour.) 1909. A “Mediterranean-style” company growers and wagon freighters had 4. Billy the Kid Cabin Site. (Visitors grazed the higher meadows to bare ground, and wood haulers had stripped forested slopes to feed household fires and industrial furnaces. After The Flood. The watershed is again covered with vegetation, thanks to conservation, including countless “check dams” built by the CCC in the 1930’s, and juniper and pinon growth. The Big Ditch is now a community park with paths and picnicking areas and two foot bridges. † — Jim Elliott story

SILVER CITY DAY TRIP 1 Map page 7 1. Visitors Center Chamber of

Downtown Silver City (Site #14)

5 $1.50 per day — current 1878 Territorial Charter Many of the buildings date back to the 1880’s. The street was named after John Bullard, a founder of Silver City. One year after his discovery of silver in 1870, the 24-year-old Bullard was killed by Apaches (See Site #21). OPTIONAL TOUR SITES. At Market Street to your right is the Big Ditch Park entrance (Site #10) and the Warren House. To the left is Site #16. 15. Warren House. (Market Street) Overlooking the Big Ditch is the View of Silver City 1885 Italianate red brick O.S. Warren house. Once owned by the indefati- town was ready in 1915. A drop in museum has permanent and revolving gable Elizabeth Warren, the first copper prices caused it to be abandoned exhibits. Frontier Victoriana is a major woman insurance agent in NM, it’s virtually overnight. From 1928-41 it theme with household, personal, and today’s only survivor of the Main became a dude ranch. In the late 1960’s business artifacts from early homes Street floods. the operation resumed as an open pit and offices forming the basis for From Bullard street, turn left onto mine. Today, the mine supports a exhibits. Ancient Mimbres and Casas Market Street. modern electrowinning copper recovery Grandes Indian pottery and objects 16. Saint Vincent De Paul plant producing plates of .999 copper. from the early mining town of Tyrone Church. (Market and Bayard) This 9. McComas Massacre. (Note: Site are also featured. The Museum’s photo stuccoed adobe was begun in 1874 by ONLY) (M19.1, NM90) Here Judge archive boasts an outstanding collec- the town’s Hispanic community. Its McComas (Site #2) and his wife were tion of early photos. 538-5921. Mission-style front and towers were killed by a band of Geronimo’s 13. Grant County Courthouse added in 1908. Apaches in 1883; their 6-year-old son (Broadway and Cooper) The court- Directly across from the church, at was kidnapped and taken to Mexico. house was erected in 1930; in the the SW corner of Market and Pinos To the northwest on Jack’s Peak, the lobby, two murals by Santa Fe artist Altos, is the Queen Anne-style Martin Smithsonian Institute operated a solar Theodore Van Soelen depict the area’s Maher house, built in 1887 of locally- radiation observatory until 1938. ranching and mining. made red brick. 10. Big Ditch Park. (Broadway St. At this point the Tour reverses, going (Right turn on Black Street, right on Main entrance at Site 15) Originally back down Broadway and left on Kelly Street, and left onto Bullard Street.) the town’s Main Street, the “big ditch” Bullard Street. Just before reaching Sixth Street, was formed during a series of floods 14. Bullard Street. On the you will pass on your left two older between 1895-1906. In 1980 it southwest corner of Bullard and became a city park. (See page 5) † Broadway stands a 1923 bank 11. Bell Block. (200 block W. building (designed by the south- Broadway) Today the restored Bell western architect Henry Trost) with Block brightens the downtown. Built in the original terra-cotta front and brick 1897, expanded 1906, sheathed in design. Directly across, on the north, galvanized metal stamped with intricate is the 1882 Meredith and Ailman designs resembling carved stone. bank, with its original cast-iron front. 12. Silver City Museum. (312 W. Broadway) The museum, with its All men between the cupola and Victorian Mansard roof, ages was once the H.B. Ailman house. of 18 and 50 must Built in 1881, its style and detailing reflect the optimism of the mining work boom era. An early pioneer, Ailman on the streets three came to Silver City penniless, made a days fortune in mining, and started the Meredith and Ailman Bank. The per year . . . or be fined

WNMU Museum (Site #18)

6 La Capilla (“The Chapel”) houses: one at 503 Bullard, built in David Abraham’s 1883 home. Mimbres pottery in the U.S. These 1887 as a dentist’s office, and another at Turn right on Black Street. The house at world-famous pots with their painted 511 Bullard, the Isaac Cohen house 806 Black Street was owned by Mrs. designs, date from the 8th to 12th built in 1882 and now restored. These Thomas Lyons, of the famous “million century A.D. Casas Grandes prehistoric buildings were once part of a Victorian acre” Lyons & Campbell Ranch; her Indian pottery, stone tools, ancient residential area. daughter owned the other houses on this jewelry, southwestern historical photos Turn left onto Sixth Street. block. (See Tour 3, Site 5.) and oral history recordings, and 17. Sixth Street. On Sixth Street you Continue north, by jogging right onto West military and mining artifacts are on will pass a number of fine 1880’s brick Street, go one block, turn left on 10th Street display. 538-6386. homes. At the northwest corner of to upper parking areas for WNMU Museum Reverse your course (You may wish to do a Bayard and Sixth street is the Edmund (#18). (Elevator access: continue north on loop tour around the campus: West Street, Stein home, overlooking the site of New West Street, left on 12th Street, left on College Street, to “E” Street, to 12th Street.). Mexico’s first two-story brick public Alabama Street to Museum parking area.) Go 5 blocks east on 12th Street to Pope Street schoolhouse. At Cooper Street, to the 18. WNMU Museum. (2-story stop light. Turn left and go to the fourth stop right are 1883 brick rental houses. At Fleming Hall) The museum has the light. At this point you turn left to go to Pinos the NW corner of Sixth and Black is largest permanent display of prehistoric Altos (Sites 22-30). By continuing to the next

7 Pinos Altos

In 1859, a group of forty-niners drifting home from California

DAY TRIP 1-B continues to the old mining town of Pinos Altos. (M6, NM15). Where the road divides, keep to the left. At the first intersection over the bridge, turn left onto the dirt road, which loops back to the right.

Hearst Church (Site #23)

iners. Some of the first to use at Fort McLane (Site 2-22). Raids and “arrastras” (burro operated mills the Civil War caused Americans to to grind the gold ore) were leave, but the Mexicans remained to M Norero and Ancheta . . . family wash gold and build arrastras. names still seen in Silver City. In In July 1866, Virgil Mastin brought in May 1860, Snively, Hicks, and Birch a 15-stamp mill and a saw mill hauled camped on Bear Creek, and Birch found from St. Louis by oxen. The California gold. While in Santa Rita for supplies, Column was disbanded in New Mexico the men met the Mastin brothers and a and many stayed. Placering resumed and man named Langston to whom they lode mining started. The camp was again confided the news. By September, 700 known as Pinos Altos. men were placering nearby, calling their Mining & Commerce. In 1868, camp “Birchville.” An earlier Mexican Ancheta had both trading post and settlement called Pinos Altos, is said to arrastra; Samuel G. and (Judge) have sent gold to Chihuahua in 1837, Roy Bean were dealers in merchandise Buckhorn/Opera House (Site #25) but that camp disappeared. and liquors; the Pinos Altos Co. was Apache Indians. Cochise joined the incorporated and had 600–700 There are excellent artifacts and photos in Hot Spring Apaches under Mangas inhabitants, 2 stamp mills, many the Buckhorn Saloon (circa 1865). Coloradas to drive out “Los arrastras, three furnaces for smelting, 26. McDonald Cabin. On dirt road Godammies,” or white men. On 2 hotels, several stores, and 7 saloons directly behind Opera House. John September 22, 1861, 400 Apaches (which later increased). From The Pinos McDonald, an old Indian fighter, was attacked the camp. Capt. Thomas Altos Story by Dorothy Watson. reportedly in this area in 1851. Probably Mastin, nine other Arizona Scouts, and (Numbers continue from Silver the oldest house in the county. the miners stood in defense. The City Day Trip) 27. Jud ge Roy Bean Store Site. SE Indians withdrew after fatally wounding 23. Hearst Church. The adobe corner south of site #25. Probable site of Captain Mastin (Site 30). In time, Methodist-Episcopal church was built the store operated by (Judge) Roy Bean Mangas Coloradas urged peace and with Hearst money in 1898 and now and his brother Samuel in the 1860’s. failed, was taken prisoner on January houses the Grant County Art Guild. A 28. Pinos Altos Museum. The 17, 1863, and killed the following day funeral hearse, used for Pat Garrett, and museum is housed in a log cabin, Grant other horse-drawn vehicles are displayed County’s first private school house, here. Garrett killed Billy the Kid in probably built around 1866. Lincoln, NM. Go north to first arroyo. Continue back to paved road, turn left. 29. First Courthouse. (past arroyo 3 24.Fort Cobre. This ⁄4-scale on R) Building housed the only court reconstruction, completed in 1980, session in Pinos Altos (1871). was of a fort built at Santa Rita copper Continue to stop sign, and turn right. mine in 1804 to protect the area. It was Trail of the Mountain Spirits Byway renamed Ft. Webster in 1851 (DayTrip continues north to Gila Cliff Dwellings. 2-16). The Hearst company store was 30. Cemetery. (Second gate from N, east across the street. proceed 50' to east at base of 2 large tree 25. Opera house. The opera house, stumps) Early miners in Pinos Altos, built in 1969, captures the flavor of an Capt. Thomas Mastin (Marston on old west opera house with elements from grave) and his brother Virgil were killed area historic buildings, including the late by Apaches. Return on NM15 . red-light district of Silver City (site #1-2). Viewpoint at Milepost 2.1.

8 Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway (Gila Cliff Dwellings) The sounds of their voices and laughter echoed in the canyons from the 1280?s

DAY TRIP 2 TRAIL OF THE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS SCENIC BYWAY (Inner Loop Tour): Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Gila National Forest, Pinos Altos Historic District, City of Rocks, Mimbres Indian Archaeology, Lake Roberts, Kneeling Nun, Chino Open Pit Mine . TRAVEL NOTE: This brochure uses highway milepost markers for locating many sites. (e.g., M127.4 US180 means 0.4 miles past marker 127 on US Highway 180.) Food and fuel are available at or near Sites 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, and 23.

Exterior (Site #12)

rail of the Mountain Spirits— This Scenic Byway follows the footsteps of those who T preceded: Mimbreño, Apache, Spaniard, Mexican, miner, rancher, outdoorsman. See the full variety of Grant County, from the high Chihuahuan desert to the snow- touched wilderness. This tour starts at Silver City and goes north through Pinos Altos on NM15, 1.5-2.0 hours to the highlight of this tour: the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. You then backtrack to NM35 and turn left to Lake Roberts. Follow NM35 along the Mimbres River to NM152. Turn Gila Cliff Dwellings Interior (Site #12) west to the Chino Mine overlook at Santa Rita. Here also is an opportunity came the more warlike Apaches; in made their homes there. to tour some of the old mines in this their turn, they saw the march of The cliff dwellings were built in the area. Return to Silver City via US180 Spanish soldiers and Mexican 1280’s. These Pueblo people inhabited and historic Ft. Bayard. settlements; and finally came the fur- their homes in caves and in the open, From the ancient exquisitely painted trappers, miners and ranchers. This Mimbres pottery to Chino’s huge open makes up a heritage of which we’re very The Mimbre os lived proud, hence the name, Trail of the pit copper mine, man’s presence in the here as early as about county has been long and fruitful. By Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway . 400 A.D., the gentle Mogollón culture The Gila Cliff Dwellings National 100 A.D .. . . inhabited these vast pine forests. Later Monument lies at the edge of the Gila Wilderness, the nation’s first designated and examples of both are here. Probably wilderness area. Wilderness means the not more than 8–10 families lived in character of the area will not be altered the caves at any one time. The rooms by the intrusion of roads or other were used for a generation. evidence of human presence. Homes of These small, diligent, artistic people prehistoric Indians offer a glimpse of lived in cliff houses and riverside the lives of Indians here from the 100’s villages, tilling mesa top and riverside to 1300 A.D. fields with digging sticks, grinding Settlers in the early 1870’s penetrated cornmeal with metate and mano, the mountain wilderness, where rise the fashioning pottery and cloth, carrying three forks of the Gila River, They were on trade with Indians of other surprised to find traces of an earlier race communities, hunting, and gathering of men. Fallen walls of stone, strewn wild plants and fruit to supplement with pottery fragments, clearly their squash, corn, and beans. They indicated a people of high culture who were skilled potters, producing Mimbres River (Site #15)

9 promoted by conservationist Aldo Leopold; set aside in 1924 as the first such wilderness area in the USA. Some 400 miles of fishing streams lace the entire forest. Wildlife in the Gila includes Rocky Mountain mule deer, Sonoran White-tail deer, beaver, elk, bobcat, mountain lion, black bear. 6. Ben Lilly Park. (M10.1, NM15). This forest overlook honors the mountain man and lion-hunter Ben Lilly. A plaque 150 feet west details n e l l u Lilly’s life and philosophy. M l l i

B Continuing on NM15, you will pass : o t o

h the entrance to Cherry Creek camp- P Lake Roberts (Site #13) ground (M12.2) and McMillan Campground (M13.2). †† 7. Signal Peak. (M14.4, NM15) A handsome brown bowls with black circular, and had a narrow 2' x 10' winding 7 mile, high clearance dirt road interiors and black-on-white vessels. entrance on the east side; the floor was takes you past ponderosa pine, spruce, fir The women averaged 5'1" and the men below ground level. Later pithouses of and oak to the top of the peak. From here about 5'5". They were slight of build, the Mogollon, prevalent until about you can see into Mexico. Signal Peak yet muscular. Picture on page 15 . 1000 A.D., were usually constructed of served as a heliograph point during the Seven natural caves occur high in the masonry or adobe (sun-dried bricks of Apache wars, signaling with a mirror and southeast-facing cliff, and five of the mud and straw), rectangular, and built the sun’s rays to distant peaks. † caves contain the ruins of cliff entirely above the ground. – NPS Viewpoint (M18, NM15) dwellings, about 42 rooms. All the For more information contact the 8. Anderson (Copperas) Vista. timbers seen in the dwellings are the Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitors Center at (M32, NM15) This outstanding 536-9344 viewpoint shows the headwaters of Why they left and the Gila River rimmed on the west by where DAY TRIP 2 - TRAIL OF the Mogollon Mountains, on the THE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS north by isolated peaks and divides, they went are not on the east by the Black Range, and known. SCENIC BYWAY on the south by the Pinos Altos MAP PAGE 12 Range. There are many other originals; their tree-ring dates range excellent viewpoints on NM15. through the 1280’s. The cliff dwellers 1. Visitors Center Chamber of 9. Gila River. (M37.8, NM15). Gila had abandoned their homes and fields Commerce, 201 N. Hudson. River flows west to Yuma, AZ. † by 1300. Perhaps they joined other 2. Pinos Altos. (M6, NM15.) Pinos 10. Gila Hot Springs. (M39.2, Pueblo Indians to the north or south. Altos (“Tall Pines”) was founded about NM15) Numerous hot springs in this The earliest ruin found within the 1859 when a group of forty-niners area heat the homes and greenhouses of monument area is a pithouse of a type drifting home from California discovered residents. Just before Gila Hot Springs that was made from about 100 to 400 gold in the area. See the PA Tour, page 8. is the Grapevine Campground, A.D. This dwelling was in the open, From Pinos Altos, continue on NM15. boasting the world’s largest grapevine. Note excellent viewpoints. At M43.7 the Heart Bar Wildlife Area 3. Bear Creek. (M7.4-M10, was once a ranch’s training ground for NM15) Site of gold mining in the early polo ponies, the ranch is now operated days. Here are the first evidences of by Game and Fish for elk & mountain mining by Ancheta and Norero. lion studies. (M41.8) 4. Burro-Drawn Arrastra (M8.1, 11. Visitors Center for Gila Cliff NM15) A burro-drawn arrastra (mill) Dwellings. (M42.4, NM15) Pass the was reconstructed here. road to the National Monument, 5. Gila National Forest. (M8.3, continue to the Visitors Center. With NM15) You are entering ponderosa pine displays and artifacts, the center country of the Gila (pronounced ‘HEE- introduces you to the culture of the la’) Forest. Almost one-fourth of the 3.3 Mogollón Indians, who built homes in million acre forest is in wilderness, The Mogoll n culture

n First wilderness o spans from Casas t r u l B

e designated by i Grandes to Mesa Verde. k c a J

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o the cliffs of this area. Near the Center are h P Backpacking (Site #8) 10 the remains of a 2.5-acre pueblo, with a 19. Fort Bayard. (M120.5, US180) pithouse dated at 600 A.D. Get info on Fort Bayard was built in 1866 by the hiking and horseback riding. View “Buffalo Soldiers” of the Ninth Calvary, plaque of birthplace of Geronimo. † an all-black regiment. Statue of Cpl. From the Visitors Center, return to the Greaves, Medal of Honoree, who paved National Monument road. single-handedly saved his troopers. 2nd 12. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Lt. John J. “Black Jack” Pershing served Monument. (M43.7, NM15) Built late here in 1886-87. From 1899 to 1920, in the 13th century, there are 42 well- the fort served as an Army tuberculosis preserved rooms within 5 natural caves. sanitarium and later as a veteran’s Following a cool and shady path hospital. Today it is run by the state for upward, visitors can enjoy a walk the care of elderly and handicapped through the caves where the Mogollons patients. The Fort borders a state elk once lived. Rooms constructed of stone refuge and these majestic animals can and mud mortar, the timbers seen are occasionally be seen nibbling on tender originals, placed there 700 years ago. A shoots of yucca. A nature trail is sense of the past is strong; imagine the available for the handicapped. Ft life of the Mogollón Indian farming, Bayard has one of two national hunting and gathering food. † cemeteries in New Mexico. † Return on NM15, turn left (east) Return to Silver City to west on US180. on NM35. Forest Scenery (Site #5) Alternate Route From #16 13. Lake Roberts. (M22-24, NM35) 20. City of Rocks State Park. This man-made 72-acre lake offers fine The oldest active mine in the (M3.2, NM61) Thrown up by an fishing, boating, and camping. There are southwest, the “Santa Rita del Cobre” ancient volcano and eroded by the two campgrounds and numerous trails was worked as early as 1800 by Col. wind, these rock formations create an leading into the forest. Special nature José Manuel Carrasco. Convict labor eerie and fantastical world. Complete trail and self-interpretive Mimbres from New Spain mined the shafts, with with a desert garden, the park offers Indian site are there. † mule trains of ore sent down the Janos excellent camping and picnic sites. See 14. Side Trip. Travel south to M15.1. Trail to Chihuahua, Mexico. Under the separate story. (p.16) † At this marker you are crossing the ownership of Don Francisco de Elguea, 21. Viewpoint. (M139, US180, Continental Divide. Ahead the Mimbres an impressive adobe fort (see replica at junction NM61) Directly east is the River flows to the Atlantic; behind you Day Trip 1-24) was built near the mine, jagged fang of Cooke’s Peak. Almost due Sapillo Creek flows west to the Gila River along with smelters and numerous south are the Florida Mountains, with and the Pacific. (To the left is FR150, a buildings. Though profitable, the mine the Tres Hermanas (Three Sisters) to high clearance vehicle dirt and gravel eventually had to be abandoned to the their right. West, one can see the Burro road, leading to Wall Lake. See Gila High Apaches. In 1851, the old fort served as Mountains and Jack’s Peak, site of a Country Trip 3. No gas stations until a ready-made base for the U.S.- Smithsonian solar radiation observatory Glenwood.) † Mexican Boundary Survey; a year later in the 1930’s, with the Phelps Dodge 15. Mimbres Valley. (M1-15, it became the site of Ft. Webster, the mine at the base. The Butterfield Trail, NM35) Scenic route follows the course area’s first U.S. military establishment. Pony Express Route, and Mormon of the Mimbres River through green In the late 19th century, the mine was Battalion Trail all passed just to the orchards and small farms. † reopened and the town of Santa Rita was south. The Janos Trail carried copper 16. Fort Webster #2 Site (NE at reborn. The huge open pit, started about ore south to Chihuahua City, Mex. intersection of NM61/152) Second 1910, soon consumed Santa Rita. Turn north (right) onto US180. location for fort established at Santa Rita Mule trains carried 22. Fort McLane. (M131.5, to protect the miners from Apache attack US180). To the east is the site of Fort (Site 18 & Day Trip 1-24). copper to Mexico on McLane, established in 1861 to protect Trail of the Mountain Spiritts he Janos Trail. Pinos Altos, Santa Rita, and the Scenic Bywayturns west on NM152, Butterfield trail. Here the over 70-year- an extension loop continues south (See The mine itself is now operated by old Apache chief Mangas Coloradas Site 20). Geronimo Trail Scenic Phelps Dodge. Giant-sized machines (Red Sleeves), after surrendering near Byway continues to the east. scoop the ore from the earth and huge Pinos Altos, was killed while allegedly Alternate Route: See #20 200-ton ore trucks transport it to the attempting to escape. 17. Kneeling Nun. (M12 & M2.4, reduction mill to the southwest of the 23. Chino Mines Smelter. (M127, NM152). Note the distinct rock pit. The Chino overlook provides an US180) The Chino smelter used state- outcropping to the west on the north excellent viewpoint. of-the-art technology to smelt the ore end of the mountain (Santa Rita open Return west on NM 152. At the railroad concentrates pumped 7-miles by huge pit at its base). Legend says this spire crossing you might wish to tour some of pipeline from site #18, recovering the was once a nun in love with a Spanish the old mines to the north and south, water in tailings ponds back to the soldier and turned to stone as she knelt primarily lead, zinc, and copper. (Mining mine. to pray. Also view at M2.3, NM152. Trip p.20).Continue west to the junction 24. Bayard. (M124, US180). Now 18. Santa Rita/Chino Mines Open with US180, Site #19, Ft. Bayard, center of the mining district, the town 1 Pit Copper Mine. (M5.8, NM152). entrance is ⁄4 mile further west. originally was a railroad supply point

11 Map by Jackie Blurton

12 Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway

See details - pg. 9-11 You travel in the footsteps of the pre- historic Mimbres Indians as they fish the streams, cultivate primitive corn and are surrounded by the laughter of children playing in the canyons. You hear the quiet voice of the trapper traveling in territory into which white settlers have never ventured. You sense the quietness of the peaceful Gila National Forest headwaters of the Gila into which the famous Apache leader Geronimo was born. Sense some of their pride in this region. Hear the voices of the Buffalo Soldiers as their patrols venture deeper into the wilderness trying to maintain peace. Walk the paths of the early miner trying to Siilvveerr City KOOAA find the mother lode up the next canyon. Come Camp Wiitth Us! These are the many sensations you experience when you venture ¥ Paved entry and shade trees. along the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway. It’s what one ¥ 30/50 amp pull-thru sites can accommodate the largest rigs. video called “The Last Solitude.” As a motorist you’ll drive along a ¥ Free Wi-Fi ¥ Heated narrow corridor through the first wilderness set aside by Congress. Pool. As you step out of your vehicle at one of the many mountain vistas, ¥ Air-conditioned Kamping you’ll sense the feelings of Aldo Leopold and of Teddy Roosevelt as Kabins. they trekked the area . . . and then fought hard to set the area aside for future generations to enjoy. Your Hosts and KOA Owners Reservations: The Inner Loop Jim & Jackie Blurton. 1-800-562-7623 www.silvercitykoa.com This loop tour, known for years as the Inner Loop, began as primitive forest roads and jeep trails. In 1994 it was recognized Located East of Silver City on US Highway 180 east of mile marker 118. both as a National Forest Scenic Byway and as a New Mexico 11824 Hwy. 180 E. • Silver City, NM 88022 Scenic Byway. In February 2000, the name was changed to reflect the unanimous name selection, “Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway.” The name reflects those who have walked this way through the ages and a sense of the flora and fauna that capture you . . . making this a mecca for all ages. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument The Monument offers a glimpse of the homes and lives of the people of the Mogollón culture who lived there from the 1280s through the early 1300s. This unique area reveals the homes of Relax in the quiet comfort of the prehistoric Indians in southwestern New Mexico. Drifter or Copper Manor Motels and The cliff dwellings were built in the 1280s. These Pueblo people enjoy a delicious meal at the Red Barn built their homes in natural caves and in the open. Steak House and Drifter Restaurant. “There are examples of both types of settlements in the monument area. Probably not more than 8 or 10 families lived in 711 Hwy. 180 E. • Silver City, NM 88061 the dwellings at a time. 575-538-2916 These small, diligent, artistic people lived in cliff houses and riverside villages. They tilled mesa top and riverside fields with digging sticks and ground cornmeal with metate and mano.

13 SILVER CITY DAY TRIP 1 (Continued from page 7)

John Gaw Meem, designed buildings for the campus. It now offers computer and police science, business management, voc- ed, and other degrees. 20. St. Mary’s Academy. (1800 Alabama Street) The academy opened in 1918 as a

“select boarding school for girls .” n e s l e 21. Billy the Kid’s Mother’s Grave. i N y r r

(M115.7, US180, Memory Lane a B : o t

Cemetery) Catherine McCarty Antrim, o h Billy’s mother, died of tuberculosis on Sept. P Visitors at the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Two Quail & Quail Man- Greg Whipple 16, 1874, and was buried in town, and later was moved to Memory Lane They fashioned pottery and cloth, Cemetery (left to Cypress Lane, right to carrying on trade with Indians of other 9th tree). (See also sites 3, 4, 5, and 23.) communities, and hunting. They were Four graves to the north lies John Bullard skilled potters, producing handsome (See site #14). (Turn west to Rose Lane and go north to first intersection to left.) Ben brown bowls with black interiors and

Lilly, mountain man and lion hunter, is s s

black-on-white vessels. The women e g r

buried 50' to the southwest. u B

averaged 5'1" and the men about 5'5" in e o

From Memory Lane, continue north across J : o

height. (See photo above) They were slight t o

US180. At next stop sign turn right onto h of build, yet muscular, with dark hair and P Pinos Altos Road, NM 15. Inside the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. eyes and brown skin. The sounds of their 22. Hearst Mine. (M5.1, NM15) The voices and laughter echoed in the canyon. Phoebe Hearst (mother of newspaperman And then—only the sounds of the streams William Randolph Hearst) Mine was near and birds.” the saddle of the two peaks to the west Gila National Forest and Wilderness The from this historic marker. The Hearsts had Monument is in the Gila National Forest interests in ranches, headquartering west of and lies at the edge of the Gila Wilderness, Deming, briefly owned the Santa Rita the nation’s first designated wilderness area. copper mine and company store, as well as y Almost one fourth of the 3.3 million acre a company store in Pinos Altos, and a mill a M e L

forest is a wilderness. h

probably south of the Gila Regional t i e K

Follow the Byway page 9. Enjoy your Hospital. A winding narrow-gauge railroad : o t o h

adventure along the Trail of the Mountain transported ore from Pinos Altos mines to P Spirits and feel the warm welcome. mills in Silver City. 1870’s Cabin on Billy the Kid site (page 22) Visit Historic Pinos Altos Best Lodging Value in Southwest NM Pinos Altos Ice Cream Full Kitchens Parlor Café Air Gift Shop Conditioning Post Office Visit the 1860‘s era. Wireless 30 Main Street • 575-534-1997 Internet Pinos Altos Orchards & Gift Shop Satellite TV Jan’s Jams & Jellies. Wide variety of flavors from Pinos Altos Cabins local orchards. Nightly Cottages Work by www.PinosAltosCabins.com local artists. 800-348-2477 13 Placer 575-538-1270 575-534-0406

Tour the unique art community in the downtown historic district.

14 Com eSeeOur Birds

...339 species, approximately 85% of the bird species that can be

seen in New Mexico. m a h l e P n

outhwest New Mexico has a b e o s l B e : i

well-deserved reputation for o N t o y h r r P birding. The lush riparian a B : o t

S o river valleys, scenic h

Common Black Hawk, Red-faced P mountains and canyons, and the Warbler, Lucy’s Warbler, Olive Warbler, Male Lesser Goldfinch. surrounding grasslands of the Gila Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Hepatic Tanager, National Forest attract about 339 species, Vermillion Flycatcher, Stellar’s and Pinyon approximately 85% of the bird species Jays, Bald and Golden Eagles, American that can be seen in New Mexico. Dipper, Nuthatches, Acorn Woodpeckers, The scenic byways of Grant County and the Juniper and Bridled Titmouse. offer beautiful vistas and a variety of Hummingbird species include Allen’s, habitats you can visit in a days short Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Calliope, leisurely drive. A morning can be spent Blue-throated, Magnificent, and Rufous. birding along the Gila River looking for Put Grant County and the Gila warblers and flycatchers. The afternoon National Forest on your list of birding can be spent in the cool pines of Cherry destinations. Creek looking for tanagers and yes, more - Jackie Blurton warblers. Birding in Grant County has year- Southwest Birding Trail - Southwest around rewards. In winter there are many New Mexico was the first area of the state

locations that offer scenery of beautiful r e

to develop a birding guide. Forty-one sites h s i rock formations, sandy washes and hidden F

were selected and include a wide variety of h p l springs that are a magnet for wintering a R

habitats. The official Southwestern New : o t birds. Spring migrations begin in mid to o h

Mexico Birding Trail maps are available P late April with a flow of migrants up the through area Chambers of Commerce and Blackhawk over the Gila. Gila River Valley. Summer offers excellent United States Forest Service offices as well Over 20 birding areas identified birding in the cool forested mountains as as local Audubon chapters. For more It’s been said that this area is one of the top well as the river valleys. information on these birding sites go to: birding spots in the nation and birders A small sampling of the species found www.oldwestcountry.com/birdingmap.ht who visit regularly believe this is true. here include Montezuma Quail, ml and at www.tmsbyway.com. Follow the † sites.

Close to town but country feel. Very large Big Rig Friendly sites with privacy. Full hook-ups Furnished Cabins. Free Wi-fi.
Birding • Fishing • Hiking Groups Welcome. • Riding • Forest Trails • Indian Ruins • Ghost Towns Hot Springs • Gila Cliff Dwellings 2040 Memory Lane 684 Hwy. 35, Lake Silver City, NM 88061 Roberts 1-866-RVRANCH 575-536-9459 www.rosevalleyrv.com www.spiritcanyon.com [email protected]

15 GHriakingtin County

Mountain peaks will beckon you.

rant County, a land of contrast and diversity, is a splendid place for hiking in all seasons. You don’t G have to go far to find a trail to set your feet upon and enjoy one of our great recreational pastimes. A few minutes walk from the road and you’ll be surrounded with solitude and the whisper of pines and aspens. Pool-filled canyons lead you through shady forests and sun-filled meadows. Mountain peaks will beckon you. There are trails that follow the very crest of the Black Range and the Mogollon A natural rock formation. The Gila Wilderness. Mountains and offer spectacular, boundless vistas. Far below, hidden canyons of cliffs and spires where eagles and ravens If you have a passion to hike the backbone of the continent, soar, wind their serpentine way to the far distant plains. the Continental Divide Trail runs right through Grant County. Many sections of trail are new and offer outstanding day hikes. Come hiking in Grant County. You’ll marvel at this unique GI LAHOTSPRINGS country. Shear volcanic cliffs tower above river corridors. • Souvenirs/Groceries/Snacks/Gas/Ice Pinnacles of rock rise from the mountainsides like dragons teeth. Hidden springs provide a focal point for wildlife and the • Lodging: AAA - RV & River Campground activities of ancient peoples and frontier miners. Grasslands and • AAA - 1-2 Bedroom Cabins pinon/juniper woodlands skirt the mountains. Pine and aspen (with natural hot springs water) forests grace the peaks. Blue mountains blend into blue skies on • Natural Hot Pools & Jacuzzi the horizon. • Hunting/Fishing/Wilderness Trips You won’t find trailhead parking lots crammed with cars. You • Horseback Riding/Drop Camps will find great beauty, solitude, and wonderful trails. A large • Rental Corrals/Horses portion of the Gila National Forest is in Grant County and has an extensive system of maintained trails. The forest includes the 575-536-9551 • 575-536-9314 558,065-acre Gila Wilderness, and the 202,016-acre Aldo www.gilahotspringsranch.com Leopold Wilderness. Text and Photos by - Jackie Blurton Gila Hotsprings, NM 4.5 Miles South of Gila Cliff Dwellings Maps: Gila National Forest maps, wilderness maps and trail information are available at the Gila National Forest office, 3005 E. Camino Del Bosque, Silver City, NM 88061, and at the District Ranger Stations.

4 IN TOWN 4 Free Wireless Broadband Internet 4 Large Shade Trees 4 Secure Lighted Park 4 Hot Showers & Laundry 4 48 Large Sites (30’x35’ avg.)

(Correspondence: P.O. Box 1800) 1304 Bennett Street 4 Silver City, New Mexico 88062 Corner of Bennett & 13th Street. (behind Food Basket Supermarket) Hiking in the Gila. 575.538.2239

16 Rock Hounding in Grant County byRoyalScepterGems&Minerals 1805LittleWalnutRoad SilverCity, NM88061•(575)538-9001

Grant County is well known for its NEVER ENTER A MINE! Be aware mineral deposits. Three open pit copper that there are many dangerous hidden mines, numerous other diggings and the vertical shafts and openings that can very name of the county seat, Silver City, potentially kill or maim. You can often conjure up images of good mineral find some spectacular minerals on or near collecting sites. Visitors from all over the the stockpiles around these mines. world stop here to do a little collecting as The Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Geode they travel around the Southwest. Society (538-9001) is Grant County’s mineral collecting sites in Grant County. Some of the many items that can be local rock club. If you are new to rock Photos and Text by - Kevin Cook. collected in Grant County include Native hounding, the Rolling Stones is a great Copper, Chrysocolla, Azurite, Turquoise, way to learn about rock hounding in the Gold, Silver, Obsidian, Fluorite, area. They have access to the University Amethyst, Chalcedony, Calcite, Ricolite, Lapidary lab and sponsor the Gem and DAY TRIPS 4 & 5 Moon Stone, Fossils, Petrified Wood, Mineral show Labor Day weekend. Geodes and Agates. The Royal Scepter Gems and Minerals Day Trip 4 - Visit the Border Much of Grant County is rugged high (538-9001) has a free mining and This Day Trip takes you to Deming and desert and mountain country. Access to mineral museum at 1805 Little Walnut Old Mexico. Take US180/NM152 east to collecting sites may require high clearance Rd. Minerals and fossils from Grant NM61. Right to Lower Mimbres Valley, or four-wheel drive vehicles. Before County, New Mexico, and around the world are on display, including a very City of Rocks State Park (Site 2-20); venturing into remote areas discuss impressive fluorescent mineral display. Viewpoint (2-21); south to Deming conditions you might find there with The museum is open from 10:00AM to Museum; NM11 to Columbus, Pancho persons familiar with the area. Make sure a 5:00PM Monday through Saturday. Villa State Park, and Palomas, Mexico. responsible someone knows your plan. Also, check out their display map of Return via US180 and visit Ft. McLane The US Forest Service is a good source (2-22); Hurley Smelter (2-23), Bayard and for back road conditions and camping Santa Clara (2-24). Continue on US180 sites. The Forest Service office is located to Silver City. off the 32nd Street bypass. (388-8201) Always obtain permission before Day Trip 5 - More Ghost Towns collecting on private property. Also, look Explore ghost town and great birding sites for claim markers and indications of on this Day Trip. South on NM90 see recent activity. Harrison Schmitt School (Site 1-7), Phelps A note about safety. The area is strewn Dodge mine (1-8), McComas Massacre (1- with abandoned mine workings, which 9), Lordsburg Museum, Shakespeare ghost provide the rock hound with town, Steins ghost town, Portal opportunities for finding many minerals. Barite and Wolfenite (Chiricahua Mtns). Return on NM90.

RV Park n e s l e i N y r r a B : o t o h P Petroglyph.

17 Browse the Galleries

SIIVER CITY RIVALS MAJOR

ecognized as one of the nation’s culturally progressive small communities, Silver City broke into the top three slots of Modern Maturity’s Best R Small Towns in America, was listed by John Villani as one of The Hundred Best Small Art Towns in America A local artist and her artwork. and chosen by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in its Dozen Distinctive Destinations - 2002. The strong visual and performing arts activities, museums and the renovated historic district have created an end-destination worthy of America’s culture-hungry travelers. A wide range of galleries and creative specialty shops are located throughout the university and historic districts and in the mountain village of Pinos Altos. Art walks and fairs, artist openings, gallery weekends and cultural exchanges on an international level have created a niche for Silver City in the world of art. A performing arts season that includes international talent is sponsored by the Mimbres Region Arts Council Silver City Gallery. Silver City Gallery. and the Grant County Community Concerts Association. Special events with nationally acclaimed artists include the Silver City Blues Festival, symphony and opera presentations. On the local level, community and university drama presentations and a melodrama series keep performers active. The Silver City Museum, housed in the 1881 Victorian home of H.B. Ailman, and the Western New Mexico University Museum, with the world’s largest permanent display of artifacts from the intriguing thousand-year old Mimbres Culture, are the pride of the community. Walking tours of the historic district provide insight into the spirited early days of mining and a commitment to enduring architecture. Yankie Street Galleries.

The Palace Hotel Celebrating 100 Years Located in the downtown historic district. Reminiscent of a small hotel in the European Tradition.

• Affordable Rates • 18 Rooms & Suites • Continental Breakfast

106 W. Broadway SilverCity, NM 88061 505-388-1811 www.zianet.com/palacehotel

18 Mimbres Vall ey

Mimbres pottery is the Wedgewood of Southwest ware, for its remarkable geometric and life form designs make it distinctive above all prehistori.c ceramics

Bear Canyon Waterfall (Site# 2-15) ne branch of the Mogollon throughout the area, mixed with relics continues in the upper Mimbres. Local culture lived in this valley as early of Spanish explorers in the late 1700’s farm produce is also marketed. as 750 A.D. The Mimbreño and Apache camps. The Mimbres Today is one of sun O Indians were small, brown- The Apaches , called the Tchi-he-nde and tranquility. Along the cottonwood- skinned people who farmed, made or Red Paint people, moved south to lined banks of the Mimbres, farms and exquisite pottery and kept diaries on camp and continued the tradition of orchards hug together to drink the cold, convenient cliff walls. The pottery they farming. Spaniards from Mexico and clear water in abundance. High above, produced, with its finely-painted Spain came to work the mines and made the Mimbres gets its start from snow-fed geometric and naturalistic designs, is slaves of the Apaches who rebelled. For 80 streams of the Black Range. Up in the world-famous today. (Examples at Sites years, Apache raids, peace treaties, and pines and piñon, deer, bear and elk still 1-12 & 1-18). The artistic and peaceful broken promises made the Mimbres run nearly as unmolested as they did in Mimbres Indians left the valley country a place of massacres, expansion, Mowry days. — by Betty Woods. † suddenly and mysteriously around 1300 and abandonment; the Mexican War, the m u e

A.D. Now, hints of intimate little Gadsden Purchase, Overland Mail, tiny s u M

pueblos lie buried, and one wonders forts, stage stations, and the stage crossing U M N

about the figures on the overhanging of the Mimbres at Mowry City. By the W y s e t

cliff walls and tries to understand their 1860’s and 70’s, Anglo and Hispanic r u o c

meaning. The legacy of their abandoned settlers were also drawn to the fertile soil. o t o h

villages and artwork can be found Small-scale mining and sawmilling P City of Rocks Mimbres Pottery (Site # 2-15) WNMU Collection

The City of Rocks, in the extreme southeastern corner of Grant County, 32 miles south on US180, and 4 miles east on NM61, is a striking result of the geologic process of erosion, a quiet retreat, and a source of unending interest to both City of Rocks (Site # 2-20)

heory is that these formations readily suggest giants’ chairs, were thrown 180 miles from a prehistoric monsters, or creatures of volcano near Albuquerque. For imaginative myth. T some, the park resembles a Adjacent to the formations rises medieval village; for others it is a Table Mountain, a perfect example of a collection of misshapen, albeit benign, mesa. The appearance suggests a cone giants. Essentially, it is a flat-lying accurately cut off somewhat below the sheet of reddish lava which has been middle, and the table top looks as level, chiseled by action of water-borne from a distance of a few miles, as abrasives into the likeness of a city though it had been laid off with with streets and buildings. The surveyor’s instruments. jointing of the rocks has taken place Plant life of the “City” includes along vertical rather than horizontal shade-providing evergreen oaks. planes, with the consequence that the Dominant plants on the surrounding “streets” are more or less the same plain are tree yucca, broomweed, and height. There are formations which black grama grass . — by Ross Calvin † City of Rocks (Site # 2-20) 19 The Catwwallk

ive miles up the Whitewater Canyon road from Glenwood will F bring you to the west end of the unusual Catwalk. This 250 foot metal causeway clings to the sides of the boulder-choked Whitewater Canyon, which in some places is only 20 feet wide and 250 feet deep. There are many spots where a hiker can leave the steel causeway and relax on the grassy banks of the sycamore shaded stream. Whitewater Canyon, site of the famous Catwalk, was a central point in the mining saga. The town called both Graham and A wooden bridge at The Catwalk, in Glenwood. Whitewater grew up around a mill built by John T. Graham in 1893 and lived less The mines above the canyon were worked from their discover in 1889 until 1942 than 10 years. All that remains to mark the (Billy the Kid's stepfather, William Antrim, was a blacksmith at Graham). spot is part of the mill walls still clinging to the west side of the canyon near the Pipe used in the entrance to The Catwalk. The mines above water line was the canyon were worked from their delivered to the discover in 1889 until 1942 (Billy the site on wagons Kid's stepfather, William Antrim, was a drawn by teams of blacksmith at Graham). up to 40 horses. The Helen Mining Company was first to Ore was pulled develop 13 claims about 4 miles upstream down the from the mill which could not be built mountain to an closer to the mines because of the rough, ore chute, located narrow canyon. A 3 mile, 4" metal pipeline on the ridge just provided a continuous water supply to the above the mill, by town and its electric generator. Although a smaller teams. larger 18" pipeline was built in 1897 to run Brace holes were a big, new generator, todays Catwalk drilled into the follows the route of the original line. The Gila Wilderness in Glenwood. solid rock walls, sometimes 20 feet above the canyon floor, to hold the timbers and iron bars that supported the smaller water line along its meandering course. Some of the original 18" pipes support sections of the present- day Catwalk. The massive rock walls of Whitewater Canyon saw few visitors until the Civilian Conservation Corps. was assigned the task of rebuilding The Catwalk as a recreation attraction for the Gila National Forest. The present metal catwalk was built by the Forest Service in 1961.and in 2004. Directions: The Catwalk is located 5 mi. east of Glenwood, past the Glenwood Hatchery- an excellent stop to visit! The new Catwalk Causeway.

20 GilaHighCountry (Cliff/Gila, Glenwood, Mogollon - Day Trip 3) You will go into the very heart of the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest, past high meadows, running streams, and

OUTER LOOP DAY TRIP 3. From Mogollón east, the last half of the loop tour is on dirt or gravel roads which should not be attempted by low-clearance vehicles or long trailers. Such vehicles can travel the first half of the loop with Glenwood, beautiful Whitewater Canyon, and Mogollón as their destination. y a

The complete loop requires at least 7–9 hours driving time; start early or plan an overnight in the M e L h t Glenwood area. In winter please call the Gila National Forest at 388-8201, or 539-2481 in Glenwood, i e K : o

to check on road conditions for sites 22-23. t o h P The Catwalk (Site #16) n 1899 a large section of rugged forested mountains and rolling I woodlands was set aside as a new public domain; eventually this would form the base of the almost 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest (pronounced HEE-la). Today, these mountains and canyons, ranging in elevation from 4,200 to 11,000 feet, comprise one of the nation’s largest undisturbed natural areas. In the 1880’s Mogollón (“MUG-e- yone”) roared into existence with a production of gold that might have Cooney was killed Mogollón (Site #20) by Apaches . . . the long trail to Silver City in clanking lasted less than 10 years. The mill walls 18-mule team ore wagons. In the still cling to the west side of the canyon satisfied Coronado. Sgt. Cooney’s summer, Mogollón offers shops and near The Catwalk. The mines above discovery (Site 18), despite Apache sights that tease your imagination. the canyon were worked from their attacks, produced millions of dollars in Many old buildings still stand, and the discovery in 1889 until 1942 (Billy the gold and silver ore. The ore went down museum and gallery here preserve Kid’s stepfather, William Antrim, was a interesting artifacts of area history. The blacksmith at Graham). movie “My Name Is Nobody” with The Catwalk. Mining claims were Henry Fonda and Terence Hill was about 4 mi. upstream from the mill. It filmed here . could not be built closer because of the If you are continuing east on NM159, rough, narrow canyon. A 3 mi. long, 4'' have adequate gas and supplies. The next metal pipe line provided a continuous services will be along the Mimbres River, water supply. An 18'' pipe line was built 120-170 miles away. Sections of the road to Snow Lake climb above 9,000 feet. The Catwalk is This stretch, from Mogollón through the suspended Willow Creek area, is difficult for trailers but an alternate route is through Reserve, high above the frothing NM, on FS141. Whitewater Creek. The Catwalk - Whitewater Canyon. This is the site of the famous in 1897 to run a big, new electric n e l l

A Catwalk, a central point in the mining l generator. The present day Catwalk l i B

: saga. A town grew up around a mill o t follows the route of the original 4'' line. o h

P built by John T. Graham in 1893 and Wilderness Pack Team (Site#22) 21 the lake turn-off. †† 7. Fort West Site (M85.5, US180, E on bluff) The first American settlement on the Gila, this fort was established in 1863 as part of a campaign against the Apaches. Abandoned a year after construction, the fort was later dismantled. (Now on private property.) 8. Gila River (M85, US180).The Gila River starts in the Gila National Forest and flows west to Yuma, AZ, and the Colorado River. It nurtures some of the best remaining SW riparian habitats. Watch for heron and other birds. † Mogollon Movie Set (Site #20) 9. Cliff (M84, US180) Cliff was settled about 1884 as a farming and ranching Pipe used in the water line was hauled largely responsible for the town’s community. To the east are the remains by up to 40 horses. Ore was pulled down favorable reputation as a mining district. of a four story, 300 room Salados Indian the mountain to an ore chute just above 3. Continental Divide (M109.5, pueblo, 1425–1575 A.D. The Salado the mill by smaller teams. US180) 6230 ft. You cross the Indians were a sub-group of the Anasazi, Brace holes were drilled into the Continental Divide four times. normally found in Arizona. solid rock walls, sometimes 20 feet 4. Mangas Springs (M94, US180) In Sacaton Road is a graveled, scenic above the canyon floor, to support the the late 1700’s the Spanish knew this alternate loop tour to Site 11. It follows smaller water line. Some of the as Santa Lucía, a meeting place and the base of the Mogollon Range with original 18'' pipes support sections of bivouac for their expeditions. In 1846 26 miles of breathtaking vistas and the present Catwalk trail. Gen. Kearney, guided by Kit Carson, access to trailheads into the wilderness. The massive rock walls of Whitewater met with the Apache chief Mangas Take NM293 north 2.2 miles. Turn left Canyon saw few visitors until the CCC Coloradas. Briefly it was an unofficial on Sacaton Road, follow it until Forest was assigned the task of rebuilding The reservation for the Mimbres Apaches. 1 Road 147, which exits ⁄2 mile north of Catwalk. The present metal catwalk was 5. Gila/LC Ranch Headquarters (M89, Aldo Leopold Vista (Site 11). built by the Forest Service in 1961. US180) To the north lies the town of Consider the 7300-acre Gila River [Upgraded in 2003.] – Eve Simmons Gila, former headquarters of the once- Riparian Preserve , north on NM293, Mogollón famous Lyons-Campbell Ranch owned by the Nature Conservancy. Mogollón has fewer than a dozen (private property). In 1884 the ranch 1 Over ⁄3 of the North American bird year-round residents and is the subject species have been sighted there. of many legends. In the 1880’s miners Lyons & Campbell † 10. Brushy Mt. Radar Site (M67.5, in the rip-roaring mining camp Ranch US180) South of Mule Creek, they “dropped over the hill” to then work a spanned a million scan the southern border area for legal, ten-hour day at Cooney, the site of the and illegal, air traffic. Cooney Tomb (site 18.) acres... † 11. Leopold Vista (M63.6, US180) was described as the “largest in the This stop offers a superb view of the DAY TRIP 3 - world,” 60 miles from north to south GILA HIGH COUNTRY and 40 miles from east to west. A bona fide “cattle baron,” Thomas Lyons (Outer Loop, Map page 12) dreamed of an operation that would 1. Visitors Center Chamber of make this the biggest cattle market west Commerce, 201 N. Hudson. of Kansas City. 2. Chloride Flat (M112, US 180) Soon The dream failed, and in 1917 he was after the initial silver strike in 1870, mysteriously murdered in El Paso. Once Lorenzo Carrasco and others made new part of the LC’s self-sufficient empire, discoveries at Chloride Flat, west of town many buildings in Gila remain a . . . the first major silver district in New testament to the “Lion’s” energy. Mexico, producing over 2 million ounces 6. Bill Evans Lake (M87, US180, W

on FR809) This 65-acre lake was y in its twenty years. The Carrascos had a M e

created by the Phelps-Dodge Corp. and L

experience in Mexico. By producing the h t i e

stocked by the NM Dept. of Game and K

first marketable silver bullion, Carrasco : o t

Fish. It is open to the public. Gila Bird o h

brought in prospective miners and was P Habitat is south along the River past Aspens near Snow Lake (Site #22) 22 Gila Wilderness. It honors conserva- tionist Aldo Leopold who, influenced by his experiences in the Gila National Forest, boldly advanced the field of game management. Leopold was instrumental in the designation of the Gila Wilderness as the country’s first wilderness area. 12. Soldiers Hill (M61.6, US180) To l l i h c the west, in 1885, U.S. troops pursued r u h C

Apache Indians who divided into three e c n e r

groups and caught the soldiers in a w a L : o t o h

The soldiers were P caught Snow Lake (Site #22) in a deadly triple fishing in the pond. William French. Using aliases, Butch 16. The Catwalk Another five miles Cassidy and his men once worked as crossfi.re up the Whitewater Canyon road will hands at the WS (Private Land). In bring you to the unusual Catwalk. 1885, troops were massacred at Soldiers deadly triple crossfire. The soldiers were This 250-foot metal causeway clings Hill (#12) and were buried in a hillside buried in the WS cemetery (#19). to the sides of the boulder-choked cemetery here, still visible. 13. Glenwood (M50, US180) This canyon, in some places only 20 feet At this point, turn and backtrack to pleasant community, at the junction of wide and 250 feet deep. There are M47.4 and the road to Mogoll ón. The Whitewater Creek and the San many spots where a hiker can leave the steep, narrow paved road to Mogollon is Francisco River, attracts numerous trail and relax on the grassy banks of not recommended for larger trailers; often hunters and fishermen. Lodging is the sycamore-shaded stream. The trail closed in winter. available. Western artist Olaf Wieghorst continues into the Wilderness. † 20. Mogollón (M47.4, US180, has ties to Glenwood; he served with the From the Catwalk, return to US180. 9 miles on NM159) The narrow road Cavalry after Pancho Villa’s raid and Three miles up US180 is the turnoff to to Mogoll ón first winds to Whitewater later worked on area ranches. the Mogollón ghost town, Snow Lake, Mesa with its high meadow against a For those taking the full loop drive, and Wall Lake. Glenwood is your last chance until the OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP. Stay on 3.3 million acres of Mimbres Valley to stock up on supplies US180 in order to see Alma, Cooney’s Tomb national forest and and gas! It’s approximately 120-170 and the WS Ranch. Those not continuing 1510 miles of trails. miles (depending on route) or 5-7 hours on the loop to Mogoll ón might wish to driving time. † travel further on scenic US180 and NM12 mountainous backdrop. Almost at the 14. Alma Jail House and Antrim to the old ranching community of Reserve, top, you will see across the canyon the Cabin (M50.5, US180) The Los New Mexico. tailings of the old Little Fanney Mine Olmos Guest Ranch includes two 17. Alma (M46, US180) This small (reclaimed in early 1990’s), among the historic buildings. The Alma jail will community, once a stop on the richest in the region. Mogollón lies give any visitor a claustrophobic sense “outlaw trail” from Mexico, was used tucked in the narrow valley below. of prison conditions. The Antrim cabin as a refuge by such men as Butch 21. Willow Creek Area (30 miles on was built and occupied by William Cassidy and his gang. NM159) This gravel road to the three Antrim, stepfather of Billy the Kid. See 18. Cooney’s Tomb (M46.1, US180, 5 Willow Creek campgrounds is among “Billy the Kid” story page 22. mi. on FR701) Sgt. James Cooney the most beautiful in southwest NM. 15. Glenwood Hatchery (M50.5, discovered riches and began to develop Quick-running streams alongside. † US180) A half mile east toward the his gold and silver deposits after being 22. Snow Lake (39 miles east of Catwalk is the Glenwood Hatchery discharged in 1875. He was killed April Glenwood, FR142) At an altitude of operated by the State Dept. of Game 30, 1880, by Victorio and his Apaches. 7,400 feet, the lake is cool and pleasant and Fish. Visitors are welcome to Cooney’s mutilated body was found by in the summer. This 100-acre lake observe the schools of trout swimming friends who carved a tomb out of a offers fishing, camping, hiking, and up and down the raceways. Ask about huge boulder here on Mineral Creek. picnicking. † Return to US180. From His brother, Capt. M. Cooney, later Beaverhead east you are on the came from Chicago to develop the Ger nimo Trail Scenic Byw.ay HIGHLIGHTS Mogollón mines. Or continue past Wall Lake, via FR28, Fish Hatchery (15) 19. WS Ranch and Cemetery FR141, and FR150, to NM35. FR150 is Catwalk (16) (M44.3, US180) Still in operation, this 40 miles of dirt/gravel, and high- Mogollon (20) Snow Lake (22) sprawling ranch was run in the 1890’s clearance vehicles are recommended. At by the entertaining author, Captain NM35 it joins the Trail of the 23 Mining

Mangas Coloradas, Red Sleeves, chief of the Apache nation, sent arrows tipped with copper flying into camps as his calling cards. Kit Carson wrote of storing a load of furs in an old mine at Santa TRRiIPt#a6. : MINING (Self-Guided) gives a good feel for the extent mining has influenced history in this area. Use with the Tour #2 , heading east on US180 & NM152. Highway milepost markers were used to aid you (e.g., M2.3, NM152). Round-trip mileage from Silver City: sites A-N, 45 mi.; Site O, 30 mi.; sites P-R, 20 mi.

Equipment (Site D & 2-18) anta Rita. Carson wrote of storing a load of furs in Apache Miners. Indians an old mine. Sylvester Pattie decided to harvested the copper that “grew buy it, but left when a trusted employee S from the ground in fernlike absconded with $30,000 of his capital. pieces.” Mangas Coloradas or “Red End of Indian Raids. In 1872, Sleeves,” chief of the Apache nation, Cochise, successor to Mangas sent arrows tipped with copper flying Coloradas, agreed to move his into camps as his “calling cards.” This tribesmen to reservations. Martin B. was after Indians were slain in 1837 by Hayes took over the old copper a howitzer concealed in the brush. The mines, including one known as the Indians cut off all supplies, remnants of “Chino” (“Chinaman”), but Gerónimo the camp fled south; Santa Rita continued to war against the whites. remained a ghost town until 1860. While Gerónimo was held captive Spanish Miners. The Santa Rita del (1877–1882), J. Parker Whitney Cobre Mine was old when the Gold bought out the Santa Rita. Richer veins Rush began. Lt. Col. José Carrasco played out. At that time, no one knew ignored orders to destroy the Apache. the low-grade sulphide rock would become the foundation of one of state’s Santa Rita Pit (Site D & 2-18) Indians mined it first,greatest industries. — from Chino. Chino Mines. John Sully, at the Goodhue, later of San Diego Exposition now we use 200-ton request of G.E. Co. in 1904, studied the fame, who designed Spanish-type office trucks to move ore property for possible operation as an buildings and homes—excluding open pit mine. But G.E. lost interest. outdoor plumbing, saloons, and Instead, he did a favor for the Indians Sully persevered, and received financial brothels. When mines closed nationwide who showed him native copper and backing in 1909, starting Chino Copper in 1921, Tyrone became the “most where to find more. Company, and built a new mill at Hurley beautiful ghost town in the west” and About 1800, Carrasco and a party of (9 mi. away). Kennecott bought the served for a time as a dude ranch. Sept. 24 arrived in Santa Rita and opened the mine in the 1930’s, built a smelter in 1, 1966, Phelps Dodge established its second oldest copper mine in the U.S. 1939, added a fire refinery in 1942, a large open pit copper mine and mill, and (only Lake Superior’s deposits were reduction mill in 1983, and a new the “Sleeping Beauty” awakened. Fred known earlier). smelter in 1984. Mitsubishi bought 30% Borenstein is said to have bought the American Miners. Trappers seeking in the early 1980’s. Phelps Dodge $100,000 railroad depot for salvage and beaver learned about the mine. Kit bought the remaining 70% later. sold it for $1. He didn’t have the heart to Concentrating is done at wreck it. the mine, pumping a — from Silver City Enterprise slurry to the smelter, A. Kneeling Nun (M2.3, NM152) producing .999 copper. See Tour 2-17. Tyrone B. Mathis Lime (M3.2, NM152) Tyrone started up in Lime for copper recovery. 1909 when the Phelps C. Kearney Mine (M5.7, NM152 on Dodge Corp. bought the left) The headframe and dump on the several claims, the first hill to your left was a zinc mine operated of 300 they would by Peru Mining until the early1940’s. own by 1916. Mrs. D. Santa Rita/Chino Open Pit James Douglas and Mrs. Copper Mine (M6, NM152) See Dodge engaged Bertram details in Tour 2-18. Mine and

24 concentrator in distance to right, Old church with superb view of Site I on NM90) . operated by Phelps Dodge , produce a from parking lot. Stone religious grotto. O. Phelps Dodge Tyrone Mine copper concen-trate. The copper was I. Cobre Mining Mine and Mill (M32, NM90) Leached copper sulfate is then pumped via pipes to Site N. Copper (Seen from Site H) Sharon Steel operated processed through a solvent extraction/ sulfate from a leaching operation is also this mill, open pit, and underground electrowinning plant, giving .999 copper. processed through a solvent extraction/ mine until copper prices dropped too (Return through Silver City, north on electrowinning plant (to east) resulting in low. Now Cobre Mining. NM15.) plates of .999 copper. (Forest Road to North. Return south on P. Hearst Mine (M5.1, NM15) Details E. Georgetown Cemetery and Road NM356, CHECK MILEAGE when on Tour 1-22. The Hearst mine was in (M6.9, NM152) The cemetery is 0.4 mi. crossing NM152.) the saddle (to west) between peaks. north on Georgetown Rd. Georgetown J. Princess Mine (NM356, 0.2 mi., Q. Burro-Drawn Arrastra Site was prosperous until the silver price drop on hill to left). Headframe is US (M7.8, NM15) Burro-drawn arrastra to Smelting & Refining’s old Princess mine grind ore in mid-1800’s. (Site 2-4) Santa Rita beat the operated through the 1960’s. R. Cypress Mine (M9, NM15) K. Blackhawk Mine (NM356, 0.5 Explorations by Kennecott, Exxon, etc. Chicago Cubs 6 to 5...mi. on right). The remains of an old Underground copper/silver/gold mine ASARCO lead-zinc mine; reclaimed worked last by Cypress Mines. in 1893. Billy the Kid stole Chinese in 1995. Return to Silver City, near site 1-13. paraphernalia and was jailed. Santa Rita L. Santa Rita Concentrator S. Legal Tender Mine (South of beat National League champion Chicago (NM356, 2.5 mi. to NE). Leach dump Market) City’s original silver mine. Cubs 6 to 5 in 10 innings. (Return west is on hill to right. T. Chloride Flats (M113, US180) on NM152, 2 mi. to NM356 (Fierro Rd), M. Vanadium (NM356, 2.6 mi. Source of most local silver production, CHECK MILEAGE , and turn north). right) ASARCO’s Ground Hog lead-zinc 2 million ounces in 20 years. F. NJ Zinc Mine and Mill (0.3 mi. on mine and mill until late 70’s. Go south 2.5 U. Mineral Museum ( 2 blocks north Fierro Rd) NJ Zinc was operated by Gulf mi., take US180 south to Hurley, MP127. on Little Walnut Road) Mineral displays & Western until the early 1970’s when N. Chino Mines Smelter (M127, at Royal Scepter for the rockhounder and depressed lead and zinc prices forced its US180, #2-23) Turn left at tracks, turn those interested in the history and beauty closure. All the underground workings right on “A” Street. Then right, crossing of rock specimens. flooded when the pumps were turned off. tracks again, into parking lot. An ultra- G. Republic Mine (1.6 mi.). Iron modern smelter and acid plant. Other mine workings on left (also NE). views from town. H. St. Anthony’s Church (2.8 mi.) (Return via US180, go south 15 miles

Ft. Bayard National Historic Landmark

Fort Bayard served as U. S. Army post during Indian Wars 1866-1899 and Army Sanatorium (1899-1920) Fort Bayard (Site #2-19) nce home to the Mimbres and established Fort Bayard between Pinos The Indian threat ended when "Red Paint" Chiricahua Apaches, Altos and Santa Rita. The post was name Geronimo surrendered in 1886. irregular cavalry troops protecting Fort Bayard in honor of Gen. Bayard In 1899, facing abandonment, they O settlements, had camped in the who had served in the Territory before transferred it to the Army Medical area during the Civil War. being killed at the Battle of Department because of the healing In 1865, it was requested that a new Fredericksburg. qualities of the high altitude and dry fort be established in the southwestern In 1871 a lieutenant described the sunny climate. It became the first U. S. region. In 1866 the 125th U.S. Infantry fort: "The locality was all that could be Army tuberculosis sanatorium, with desired; the Post everything Major D.D. M. Bushnell in charge. R. undesirable." From 1873-75 it went N. Kinney, later director of Army Nurses from tents and huts to adobe officer's Corps, supervised the inclusion of quarters. Later the Fort was known as female nurses in the Department. one of the most attractive posts in the In 1922, under the Veterans southwest. Administration WW-I and WW-II Fort Bayard was home to Native veterans were rehabilitated. German American Indian Scouts, Buffalo POW’s were housed. In 1965 under the Soldiers (several were Medal of Honor State of New Mexico it was made a recipients, recognized by the statue of long-term health care center. The 1866 honoree Cpl Clinton Greaves), and Will cemetery was named a National Cathay (A.K.A. Cathy Williams) who Cemetery in 1976. was the only known female Buffalo Fort Bayard was designated a New Soldier. Gen. George Crook and Lt. Mexico Historic District in 2001 and a Buffalo Soldier Medal of Honoree (Site (2-19) "Black Jack" Pershing served at the post. National Historic Landmark in 2004. † 25 Billy the Kid

• Billy’s Boyhood Days “Come gather round and I’ll sing you a song, • His First Arrest A tale of Pat Garrett and the Kid who went wrong, • Jail Break Way down in New Mexico, long, long ago, • Billy’s Brother Where a man’s only law was his own forty-four. • His Mother’s Grave Now when Billy the Kid was a very young lad, • Billy’s Stepfather In old Silver City he went to the bad. • Recollection of Sheriff Way out West with a knife in his hand, • Recollections of Friends At the age of twelve years he killed his first man.” Billy the Kid –from the “Ballad of Billy the Kid”

illy’s Roots The myth that Billy the Kid B killed his first man in Silver City is just that—one of many legends surrounding this young gunslinger’s career. Possibly the most written-about western figure, little is actually known about Billy the Kid’s early childhood. He was probably born around 1859 in New York City. In 1873 he was a witness at the marriage of his mother, Catherine McCarty, to William Antrim in Santa Fe. Like many Photo: Alfred S. Addis Courtesy of Museum of NM.(Negative No. 99054) Boyhood Home of Billy the Kid (Site 1-4) New Mexicans, Antrim was a jack-of-all- trades with a burning desire to strike it Today’s Cabin. The cabin on the site was designed after an 1870’s cabin, the rich. So within months of acquiring a wife era when Billy lived here in town. The cabin was donated by producer-director and two sons, Billy’s stepfather moved his Ron Howard and used in his 2003 movie, “The Missing”. See photo page 13. family to the southwest’s newest and richest mining district— Silver City. down in 1894. By many accounts, Billy’s mother was buried in town; later Memories of Billy Antrim was a negligent father, away long moved to the Memory Lane Cemetery Today in Silver City, Billy’s memory periods of time on the perennial quest for off US180, where her grave can be lives in family stories handed down and gold and silver. Mrs. Antrim, who found (1-21). in our imaginations. In a 1902 inter- suffered from tuberculosis, took in His Employment view, Sheriff Whitehill summed up his boarders to support the family. Billy got a job waiting tables at the memories of the Kid: School Life nearby Star Hotel (Site #1-5.) Sheriff “There was one peculiar characteristic Like any kid in town, Billy, then H.H. Whitehill reminisced that the that to an experienced man-hunter named Henry McCarty, went to boy’s first “offense was the theft of and that was his dancinscghool. A classmate, Anthony Conner, several pounds of butter from a remembers him: ranchman . . . which he disposed of to eyes. They never were “He was very slender. He was one of the local merchants.” at rest... undersized and was really girlish-looking. First Arrest I don’t think he weighed over 75 pounds. Billy’s boyhood friend, Anthony would have marked him immediately as He had coal black hair and coal black Conner, ascribed Billy’s new predilection a bad man.” The sheriff remarked with eyes . . . I never remember Billy doing to his reading matter. “Finally he took to placid hindsight, “and that was his anything out of the way, any more than reading the Police Gazette and dime dancing eyes. They never were at rest, the rest of us. We had our chores to do, but continually shifted and roved much like washing the dishes and other duties He was undersized and like his own rebellious nature.” about the house. Billy got to be quite a was really girlish- We have added brief notes on the Billy reader. He would scarcely have his dishes the Kid sites found in Day Trips 1 and 3. washed, until he would be sprawled over looking... Boyhood Home somewhere reading a book.” novels. One night he robbed a Chinese In the rough mining boom town, Billy’s Mother Dies laundry. I think it was regarded by him as William Antrim purchased a lot on the On September 16, 1874, Mrs. Antrim more of a prank than anything else. But, east side of Main Street, now the Big died of consumption (tuberculosis). The Sheriff Harvey Whitehill locked him up Ditch, south end of Visitors Center. local newspaper reported simply “the for it . . . Mr. Whitehill only wished to (Site #1-4). The log cabin where the funeral occurred at the family residence scare him.” Antrim family lived, was eventually torn on Main Street at 2:00 on Thursday.” 26 Escape from Jail (Site 1-3) who done the stealing while Henry The sheriff’s account agrees that done the hiding. Jack has skinned out.” putting the 15-year-old Billy in jail was First Killing meant only to convince the youngster In Arizona, in 1877, the waifish of the perils of crime. 17-year-old shot a blacksmith who was The adobe jailhouse stood on the site bullying him in a bar. A jury found the of today’s Forest Service warehouses on murder “unjustifiable.” Billy fled back Hudson Street. Billy complained to to New Mexico. He was befriended by Whitehill of a lack of exercise, and was Tunstall in Lincoln, and was treated as allowed once a day in the jail’s corridor. a son for the first time. When Tunstall Left alone 30 minutes, the slender Billy was killed, Billy became embroiled in promptly climbed out the jail’s chimney the County War, a dispute between and escaped. m

Silver City’s reaction was casual. The u e s u

Grant County Herald commented He took to reading M y t i

briefly: “Henry McCarty, who was C r

the Police Gazette & e v l i

arrested on Thursday and committed to S : o t

jail to await the action of the Grand dime novels... o h Jury upon charges of stealing clothes P Silver City in Late 1870’s from Charley Sun and Sam Chung, two parties battling for economic celestials, sans cues, sans Joss sticks, control of the rich county. Gunfighter included the tall tale that the 12-year- escaped from prison yesterday through and rustler, Billy went on to escape old Billy knifed his first man in Silver the chimney. It’s believed that Henry from two more jails, to meet Gov. Lew was simply the tool of ‘Sombrero Jack’ Wallace (author of “Ben Hur”) and to City. Garrett was carried to his grave become something of a popular folk in the hearse at Site 1-23. figure. By the age of 21, he could be Billy’s Brother and Stepfather HIGHLIGHTS linked to the deaths of at least 12 men. Billy’s brother, Joseph, stayed until in Cabin Site (1-4) Finally on July 14, 1881, the young 1884 he was arrested in a fracas; later Mother’s Grave (1-21) outlaw was killed in a gun battle with became a miner and gambler of little Jail Escape Site (1-3) Sheriff Pat Garrett. fame. Billy’s stepfather, William Antrim, Garrett Hearse (1-23) Garrett’s sensational “The continued as fortune-seeker and served Authentic Life of Billy the Kid,” as a mine superintendent in Mogollon. Other Famous Names he draw of mining riches, great Lorenzo Carrasco. Owned early mines when the team was owned by A.J. climate and solitude brought & mills in Silver City; Spalding (sporting goods). famous names to Silver City: (Judge) Roy Bean. Ran a store in Pinos Stewart Granger and wife Jean T Teddy Roosevelt. In 1913 he Altos with his brother Sam. (Site 1-27) Simmons. Owned the 7-L-Bar Ranch, stayed at today’s Burro Mountain Gen. “Black Jack” Pershing. Assigned part of today’s Ponderosa. Homestead; hunted the XSX Ranch. to Fort Bayard as 2nd Lieutenant in William Goodrich (tires), Gus Hilton Franklin D. Roosevelt. While 1886-87. (Site 2-19) (Conrad’s father) and Mark Twain. Secretary of the Navy, he and Eleanor Major Gen. Claire Chennault. Later Reported visitors at Southern Hotels. also visited the Homestead, as friends gained fame with the Flying Tigers in Col. José Carrasco and Don Francisco of the Fergusons. China. He crashed a Ft. Bliss (TX) de Elquea were early owners of Santa Kit Carson. Scouted for Gen. Kearney, plane on an unauthorized forest fishing Rita mine. (Site 2-18) passing by Santa Rita mine in 1846, trip in the Gila. Herbert Hoover. Was 1898 asst. later as a teamster there. He hauled Geronimo, Nana, Cochise, Chato, manager of mine in Carlisle (near supplies and hunted for Pinos Altos Victorio & Natchez. Roamed area. Arizona) Marshall Field (Chicago stores. Geronimo born near Cliff Dwellings. dept. store) was there too. Butch Cassidy (& the Wild Bunch). Mangas Coloradas (Red Sleeves). Astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt. “Jim Lowe’s cowhands” at WS Ranch Apache chief was persuaded to Geologist on Apollo 17 grew up here. near Glenwood between robberies. surrender in Pinos Altos and then Other Names : Bronze medalist George George Hearst. George and Phoebe was killed at Ft. McLane in 1863. Young , the only American to run in Hearst, parents of William Randolph (Site #2-22.) four Olympics, Ralph Kiner, Baseball Hearst, owned a Pinos Altos mine (1- Chicago White Stockings (White Hall of Fame (Pirates/Mets) and Billy 22), the Santa Rita copper mine (2-18), Sox). Held their spring training at Casper. Professional golfer. and a ranch near Deming. Faywood Hot Springs (near Site 2-20), 27 The Holiday Inn Express in beautiful Silver City is your ticket to a Southwest adventure. Let our friendly staff aid you in exploring the wonders of the Silver City area from a convenient homebase that features a fully equipped fitness center and spa facility. Free Wireless Broadband Internet. Just off U.S. 180 E. Next to Wendy’s • Silver City NM 88061 www.hiexpress.com/silvercitynm (575) 538-2525 • 1-800-Holiday

PRESRT STD US POSTAGE PAID GRANT COUNTY Silver City, NM Silver City Grant County 88061 Chamber of Commerce PERMIT No. 10 201 N. Hudson Street Silver City, NM 88061