Petroglyphs

I love petroglyphs. They make me wonder about the people that sat there and pecked the varnish off the desert rocks to leave a record of their passing.  Many of these were very different from the ones we see in the Green, Colorado, and San Juan river drainages.

There were literally thousands of petroglyphs, all on small boulders at or very near ground level.

Obviously, hunting had been good for someone or they were dreaming of a good hunt.  Note the three arrows in this big horn sheep.

A self portrait?

It was difficult to get lost on the trail, but perhaps this signifies rockets predating the WWII and later developments at Holloman and White Sands??

The Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is managed by BLM and has a $5 daily access fee, free if you have a National Parks pass of any type.

The site is located 17 miles north of Tularosa and had very little traffic while we were there.  There are two water / electric RV sites and seven (if I counted correctly) dry sites, all of which will require some leveling.  Camping rates are half off for seniors.

White Oaks

Named for the white oaks around the spring, White Oaks was once the second largest town in the state. It's now home to a handful of people and a lot of history. It was a cowboy town until gold was discovered and easterners started arriving.

This is the powder house associated with the original mine.

There are a number of newer structures mixed in with some of the remaining originals. The school house, built in 1895, is now a museum that is open on weekends during the warmer months if a volunteer is available.

This house has been restored and is now the home of a real estate agent. It was built by the same people that built the school house.

Perhaps the fanciest house in town is owned by a descendant of the original owner. It was built for the bride of the manager of one of the largest mines - she never lived in it.

There are a couple For Sale signs in the town including this stone commercial building. Extensive remodeling has been done on the interior including a all new electrical installation.

More of the buildings look like this. Access is very difficult because the town is still active and you'd have to cross private property to view these structures closer. This one sits below a small hill.

Some leave even fewer clues to what they may have been,

but there are signs of continued mining - at least sometime during my lifetime.

Fort Stanton

Fort Stanton was built in 1855 from local stone as a military post to control the local Apaches. Supplies for the fort were a key issue in the Lincoln County War. After the military no longer needed the fort it became a sanatorium for the Merchant Marine. Other uses included a WWII internment center for German sailors, a low security women's prison, and a variety of juvenile drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

The fort was once commanded by Col. Kit Carson, and Black Jack Pershing lived in these officer quarters in the 1880s.

Off of the main quadrangle we spotted a church.

Most of the furnishings were still in place but covered with a layer of dust.

Even the bell remained

but the door was locked.

Perhaps my favorite part were the remains of the barns

and the absolutely amazing silos. I guess it's the farm boy in me. Apparently the silos are relatively new, having been funded by the WPA in the 1930s.

It was an interesting visit. Interesting structures with layers of peeling paint

and at least one roof has collapsed. History returning to dust.