While looking at some brochures, we noted that there was an old fort in Lincoln County, and decided to visit it. We found our visit well worth the time we spent there. Our tour started at the Visitor Center, a small museum at the fort. There were a number of exhibits that told a lot of the history of the fort.
Fort Stanton was established by an act of Congress in 1859. The fort had several notable commanding officers, but General John J. Pershing and COL Christopher "Kit" Carson were probably the most famous. In 1896, the garrison was withdrawn from Fort Stanton, and in 1899, the fort became the first Public Health Service Hospital for American Merchant Marine personnel suffering from tuberculosis. The choice of location was due to the dry, healthful year-round climate of the area.
During World War II, Fort Stanton served as the first internment camp in the United States. The crew of the German luxury liner Columbus was captured off Cuba in 1939 and spent the duration of World War II at Fort Stanton. Four members of the crew died during that time and are buried at the American Merchant Marine Cemetery at Fort Stanton. By 1952, drugs had been developed for the treatment of TB, and Fort Stanton was turned over to the State of New Mexico.