Historic Structure Report, Historical Data: The Third Fort Union, 1863-1891
Pitcaithley DT and Greene JA. 1982. Historic Structure Report, Historical Data: The Third Fort Union, 1863-1891. Historic Structure Report. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Denver Service Center, Denver, Colorado
Exposed to the wind, within a sweeping valley of short grass prairie, amid the swales of the Santa Fe Trail, lie the territorial-style adobe remnants of the largest 19th century military fort in the region. For forty years, 1851-1891, Fort Union functioned as an agent of political and cultural change, whether desired or not, in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest. This extensive historic structures report concerns the various historic structures at the Third Fort Union. The Third Fort consists of fifty-six structures occupying approximately 100 acres. The ruins of the Third Fort Union mark the location of the major military supply point along the Santa Fe Trail. Consisting of the post proper, the quartermaster depot, and the hospital, Fort Union gave protection and shelter to area inhabitants and travelers along the Santa Fe Trail, and aided in the distribution of supplies to other forts in the Southwest. The remaining adobe ruins and limestone foundations represent a prime early example of the New Mexico Territorial style of architecture.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Pitcaithley, Dwight; Greene, Jerome
- Date of Issue
- 1982
- Publisher
- Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- FOUN , HIST , IMR
- Keywords
- adobe, Cultural Resources, ehistory, fort, Fort Union, History, military, Santa Fe Trail, Structural History, Third Fort