Shakespeare, ghost town and historic district in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Shakespeare is a ghost town in Hidalgo County in southwestern New Mexico, now located on a private ranch that welcomes visitors for tours. The site contains several surviving buildings from the mining era, including a hotel, saloon, and blacksmith shop, which reflect the town's past as an active settlement.
The site began in 1856 as Mexican Spring with a military relay station and grew as a silver mining town after 1873, renamed Shakespeare in 1879. Decline came when the railroad passed three miles away through Lordsburg and later when silver became less valuable, leaving the town mostly abandoned until 1935.
The name Shakespeare was chosen in 1879 during a mining boom and reflects the hopes investors had for prosperity in the area. The surviving buildings show how miners and merchants organized daily life, with saloons, hotels, and workshops arranged to serve the community's practical needs.
The site is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, though it is best to call ahead to arrange a guided tour. The cemetery is also open to visitors, and several times each year living history events are held to show what life was like during the mining era.
A natural spring in a wash to the west was the original reason for human settlement and remained a critical resource for centuries. Archaeological and military records suggest this spring was used by local people and travelers long before formal settlement began.
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