The Past of Ft. Union by Homer F. Hastings; Hastings is Supt. Of Ft. Union National Monument; Hastings' talk was presented as slides- these slides included pictures of early Ft Union compared with how it looked at the time of this recording; located on Santa Fe Trail near the two junctions of the Santa Fe Trail; Santa Fe Trail credit for being "pioneer" 1821-22 and became main supply trail for New Mexico. Ft. Union "The Fort that's won the West". Established in newly statehood New Mexico. 1821 Captain William (?) crossed the Missouri River and is credited for starting the trail. HW 56 follows the Santa Fe Trail. During 1860s, Fr. Lawrence guarded the trail, but now is there for cattle ranching and a museum commemorating that time. Simone Cutoff or Dry route- Freight trains took this trail that was more hazardous- cuts through Oklahoma and passes dear Clayton, New Mexico and eventually meets with Ft. Union. Ft. Union was established in 1851 when the Santa Fe Trail was 30 years old. NM had only been a territory for 4 years. The buildings were designed to shelter 600 men- made w sun dried adobe bricks, flagstone walk. There was a cell block built, which served as the first territorial prison. First heated by fireplaces- replaced by wood burning stoves. The few remaining chimneys have been reinforced and stabilized for posterity. Had communication w outside world- 1865 there was a telegraph line built from the east through Ft. Union all the way to Santa Fe. 1870, water pipes were finally installed. Had a hospital that fit 36 beds- civilians could use who were traveling through and needed medical help. 1891 abandonment of Ft. Union- all materials were removed. The land was owned by the Union Land and Grazing Company. 1954 they donated 720 acres for a National Monument, and clean-up took place starting 1956- some parts removed, some reinforced. Now an outdoor public museum (at time of recording). Forts, including Ft. Union, in New Mexico were used by Confederates during Civil War. Museum exhibits made to display military life. Beer bottles, horse shoes, children's' toys, jail-cell doors, and other items were recovered while cleaning up the site in the 1950s. Albuquerque Historical Society; MP3 Converted, March 9, 1967

The Past of Ft. Union by Homer F. Hastings; Hastings is Supt. Of Ft. Union National Monument; Hastings' talk was presented as slides- these slides included pictures of early Ft Union compared with how it looked at the time of this recording; located on Santa Fe Trail near the two junctions of the Santa Fe Trail; Santa Fe Trail credit for being "pioneer" 1821-22 and became main supply trail for New Mexico. Ft. Union "The Fort that's won the West". Established in newly statehood New Mexico. 1821 Captain William (?) crossed the Missouri River and is credited for starting the trail. HW 56 follows the Santa Fe Trail. During 1860s, Fr. Lawrence guarded the trail, but now is there for cattle ranching and a museum commemorating that time. Simone Cutoff or Dry route- Freight trains took this trail that was more hazardous- cuts through Oklahoma and passes dear Clayton, New Mexico and eventually meets with Ft. Union. Ft. Union was established in 1851 when the Santa Fe Trail was 30 years old. NM had only been a territory for 4 years. The buildings were designed to shelter 600 men- made w sun dried adobe bricks, flagstone walk. There was a cell block built, which served as the first territorial prison. First heated by fireplaces- replaced by wood burning stoves. The few remaining chimneys have been reinforced and stabilized for posterity. Had communication w outside world- 1865 there was a telegraph line built from the east through Ft. Union all the way to Santa Fe. 1870, water pipes were finally installed. Had a hospital that fit 36 beds- civilians could use who were traveling through and needed medical help. 1891 abandonment of Ft. Union- all materials were removed. The land was owned by the Union Land and Grazing Company. 1954 they donated 720 acres for a National Monument, and clean-up took place starting 1956- some parts removed, some reinforced. Now an outdoor public museum (at time of recording). Forts, including Ft. Union, in New Mexico were used by Confederates during Civil War. Museum exhibits made to display military life. Beer bottles, horse shoes, children's' toys, jail-cell doors, and other items were recovered while cleaning up the site in the 1950s. Albuquerque Historical Society; MP3 Converted, March 9, 1967, Box: 1. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Special Collections Library.

The Past of Ft. Union by Homer F. Hastings; Hastings is Supt. Of Ft. Union National Monument; Hastings' talk was presented as slides- these slides included pictures of early Ft Union compared with how it looked at the time of this recording; located on Santa Fe Trail near the two junctions of the Santa Fe Trail; Santa Fe Trail credit for being "pioneer" 1821-22 and became main supply trail for New Mexico. Ft. Union "The Fort that's won the West". Established in newly statehood New Mexico. 1821 Captain William (?) crossed the Missouri River and is credited for starting the trail. HW 56 follows the Santa Fe Trail. During 1860s, Fr. Lawrence guarded the trail, but now is there for cattle ranching and a museum commemorating that time. Simone Cutoff or Dry route- Freight trains took this trail that was more hazardous- cuts through Oklahoma and passes dear Clayton, New Mexico and eventually meets with Ft. Union. Ft. Union was established in 1851 when the Santa Fe Trail was 30 years old. NM had only been a territory for 4 years. The buildings were designed to shelter 600 men- made w sun dried adobe bricks, flagstone walk. There was a cell block built, which served as the first territorial prison. First heated by fireplaces- replaced by wood burning stoves. The few remaining chimneys have been reinforced and stabilized for posterity. Had communication w outside world- 1865 there was a telegraph line built from the east through Ft. Union all the way to Santa Fe. 1870, water pipes were finally installed. Had a hospital that fit 36 beds- civilians could use who were traveling through and needed medical help. 1891 abandonment of Ft. Union- all materials were removed. The land was owned by the Union Land and Grazing Company. 1954 they donated 720 acres for a National Monument, and clean-up took place starting 1956- some parts removed, some reinforced. Now an outdoor public museum (at time of recording). Forts, including Ft. Union, in New Mexico were used by Confederates during Civil War. Museum exhibits made to display military life. Beer bottles, horse shoes, children's' toys, jail-cell doors, and other items were recovered while cleaning up the site in the 1950s. Albuquerque Historical Society; MP3 Converted, March 9, 1967, Box: 1. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Special Collections Library. https://nmarchives.unm.edu/repositories/9/archival_objects/536087 Accessed November 25, 2024.