Few sites in the nation encompass the breadth of history seen at the Fort Stanton State Monument. Early cultures lived along the Bonito River, leaving behind rich archeological evidence of human occupation. Spanish and Mexican settlers established communities in the nearby area, long before the United States sent the military west to protect settlers journeying to the region from the indigenous Apache Indians who claimed the lands as their own. Named for Captain Henry W. Stanton, the Fort was established in 1855 and operated as a military fortification through 1896.

The Fort Stanton State Monument is a must-see attraction when visiting Lincoln County. Nestled on Highway 220 that bisects the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway, New Mexico’s newest State Monument features over 155 years of southwestern history ranging from its initial creation as a military garrison to its significance as the first Tuberculosis Hospital in the state, to an internment camp for German seaman during World War II.