Friday, April 12th - Saturday, April 13th, 2014
Cost of trip: $135

Friends of Archaeology is planning a two-day trip to Fort Stanton in southern New Mexico this April.

Situated on 240 acres and including 88 structures, Fort Stanton is the most intact Territorial-era fort in the Southwest.

Established in 1855, Fort Stanton has a rich history and unique built environment. The fort was involved in numerous nineteenth century conflicts, including the Civil War, the Lincoln County War, and the Apache Wars.

Following the fort's decommission in 1896, Fort Stanton was re-purposed as the nation's first federal sanitorium and, until 1952, was a leading medical research center for the treatment of tuberculosis. During World War II, it also became the site of the first German internment camp in the United States.

In 1952, the State of New Mexico took control of Fort Stanton. The site assumed a variety of roles including a tuberculosis hospital, a treatment center for people with severe disabilities, a prison, and a drug-rehabilitation facility.

On Friday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m., tour participants will meet for a group ;dinner at a nearby restaurant in Ruidoso. After dinner, Dr. Oliver Horn, regional manager of the Fort Stanton Historic Site, will offer a lecture on the history and importance of Fort Stanton and the fort's status as a historical site. On Saturday, April 13, Dr. Horn will lead a 4-hour walking tour of the grounds. The tour will begin at 10 a.m.

Tour organizers are currently arranging for Friday night lodging, at a special group rate, at a nearby hotel in Ruidoso Downs (Best Western or similar). Participants will be responsible for their own motel and dinner costs. More details about this trip will available after sign-up. Please be aware that this trip is limited to 14 participants.

The cost of this tour is $135. Sign-up starts at 7 a.m., Monday, March 18, at https://friendsofarchaeology.eventbrite.com.