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Ruidoso Calendar — FORT STANTON LIVE

Fort Stanton Live!

This annual living history event takes place every August at the best preserved Calvary Fort in the West. Presented by Fort Stanton, Inc. and the Fort Stanton Foundation, this picturesque old cavalry fort on the banks of the Bonita River in the White Mountains of New Mexico is a perfect historical setting. Built to house the cavalry stationed to protect area settlers from Apache Indian raids, it became home to such notables as the famous Buffalo soldiers, Black Jack Pershing, Kit Carson, Lew Wallace and of course the infamous Billy the Kid  who apparently spent most of his time in the Fort's brig awaiting a hanging. Once the trouble with the Apaches ended, the fort declined into an Old West outpost and finally decommissioned in 1896 after which it was used for a multitude of purposes including housing German and Japanese POWs during WWII.

Fort Stanton Live is an annual two-day event that has folks dressed in period costumes reenacting life at the Fort as it was in the 1800’s. Cavalry, infantry and artillery garrisons will perform their drills as blacksmith work their forges. An 1880’s minstrel show will entertain and an old-fashioned gambling hall will be open to give you a real sense of the era. Native Americans will perform their traditional dances and a Chautauqua performance is guaranteed to please. There’s a fashion show with the Friends of Fort Seldon narrating detailed descriptions of the attire. On Sunday at noon a Civil war tactical battle will takes place to end the event with a bang. This is an opportunity for the whole family to have some fun while learning something of what our Forefathers had to contend with as they settled Lincoln County.

For more information on Fort Stanton Live contact (575) 491-4235 throughout the year.