Civil War Monuments

Take a drive along highway 50 and you will see a small fenced in gravel parking lot. Once you park in the gravel lot you will notice there are three stone monuments. These monuments stand as testaments to the cost of the Civil War here in New Mexico and remember the fallen soldiers who fought in the Battle of Glorieta Pass. They all are in remembrance to the volunteer regiments who fought and died here, one for each state that was represented, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico (at the time in 1862, New Mexico was a U.S. Territory). The Battle of Glorieta Pass was fought here because of the geographic importance of the area. The pass, which had been used for centuries, was and still is the easiest way to pass through the southern tip of the Rockies. Because of the strategic location and the close proximity to Santa Fe and Fort Union, the Union and Confederate forces met here. Whichever side had won the battle would then take control of the crucial land of New Mexico.

The monuments are located just outside of a fenced in gravel parking lot. If you have questions about the monuments, feel free to contact the visitor center at 505-757-7241.