Fort Selden was founded in 1865 at the end of the Civil War as an Army outpost to protect new settlers from outlaws and Native Americans. It was located near Radium Springs, which was then an attraction (before we knew that radium was not a preferable source of spa heat). This lovely location thousands of miles from nowhere was therefore initially given over to African-American troops, part of the famous Buffalo Soldiers, though ultimately whites did come here as well. The fort was decommissioned in 1891 after those two problems were forcibly brought under control by the national government, superseded by Fort Bliss.


Walking into the fort, I am greeted by The Sentinel. I think I can take him.


I choose the counterclockwise tour, and thus start out with the officers' quarters, ending with those of the commanding officer. Everything was built with mud bricks made from the native sand, similar to adobe but with less skill, so most of it has weathered away. Rather than rebuild the ruins, the NM Department of Cultural Affairs elected to leave only the original remnants of the fort, preserving history accurately but understanding that eventually there will be nothing but flat ground here. It's an interesting choice.


Looking across the way to the troop quarters, but before I get there, I walk past the post hospital. Made of the same material, the ruins mimic the hills in the background. You get a closeup of the bricks and mortar (essentially all the same material, just treated differently) and an idea of how the buildings originally looked - bricks on the inside of the walls, and lots of mud outside holding it together and keeping the weather out.


Now into the troop quarters. The weaker walls are propped up, which seems odd given the lack of restorative treatment otherwise, and gives a fake-front air similar to old Wild West towns where multi-story facades would hide one-story buildings. In the last photo, you can see little crumbs of wall on the ground as it slowly disintegrates despite the support.


The prison, in the far left corner of the fort.


The corrals, and a look back across at the officers' quarters.


Walking back out past the remnant of the exterior wall of the fort.


The view westward.

Out of the fort to State Road 185 scenery
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