Fort Selden, Military fort in Radium Springs, New Mexico, US.
Fort Selden is a set of adobe brick ruins from a former military post located near the Rio Grande in Radium Springs, New Mexico. The remains outline where barracks, storage buildings, and other structures once stood across the flat desert ground.
The post was established in 1865 to protect settlers and travelers moving along El Camino Real during a period of conflict with Apache groups. It stayed active until 1891, when it was abandoned and gradually fell into ruin.
African American Buffalo Soldier regiments were stationed here in the late 1800s and shaped daily life at this remote post. Visitors walking through the adobe ruins today can get a sense of the tight community that formed among soldiers living far from any town.
The site sits in an open desert with little shade, so sun protection and water are worth bringing before you start walking. Marked paths and information signs guide visitors through the different areas of the former post.
The future General Douglas MacArthur spent part of his childhood here in the 1880s while his father was in command of the post. It was one of the first military settings he knew up close, long before he led armies himself.
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