Fort Cummings

Fort Cummings is a military complex near Cooke's Springs in Luna County built with adobe structures arranged around a central parade ground. The remains show barracks, officers' quarters, a hospital, and defensive walls made of sun-dried mud bricks, positioned at the base of Cooke's Peak.

The fort was founded in 1863 under Captain Valentine Dresher to protect travelers and mail routes from Apache attacks through Cooke's Canyon. It served as a key defensive position in the region during the Indian Wars period.

The site is connected to the Buffalo Soldiers, Black military units stationed here starting in 1867, who left their mark on this place. Their presence represents an important part of American frontier history that many visitors overlook.

The site is accessible via State Highway 26, turning onto Cooke's Canyon Road NE at mile marker 14 in the area. Visitors should expect to see eroding adobe walls and scattered ruins spread across the ground rather than standing structures.

The fort was used in 1886 for testing an early communication system called a heliograph, which bounced sunlight off mirrors to send messages across long distances. This technology connected the fort with Tubac, Arizona, and preceded modern radio by decades.

Location: New Mexico

GPS coordinates: 32.46560,-107.64600

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:08