Fort Sumner

Fort Sumner is a former military post on the banks of the Pecos River in eastern New Mexico, where ruins and preserved foundations now serve as a memorial site. The visitor center displays interpretive panels and artifacts from the period when the site operated as an internment camp.

The United States Army built the post in 1862 during the Civil War to oversee and control indigenous peoples. The site became an internment camp known as Bosque Redondo where up to 9,000 people lived under harsh conditions until the facility closed in 1868.

The Bosque Redondo Memorial on the grounds honors the thousands of Navajo and Mescalero Apache held here between 1863 and 1868. Visitors can see exhibits and panels showing personal stories and daily life during this period of forced detention.

The site is open Wednesday through Sunday, with guided tours through the museum and outdoor areas. Paths are mostly level and well maintained, making it easy to explore the foundations and memorials on foot.

A cemetery nearby holds the grave of Billy the Kid, which is surrounded by a metal cage. This cage prevents the headstone from being stolen again after it was taken multiple times in the past.

Location: Fort Sumner

GPS coordinates: 34.40194,-104.19472

Latest update: December 19, 2025 22:25