2017 Map of Fort Union

About this map

Fort Union National Monument preserves a critical junction of Western frontier history in Mora County. This 2017 survey details the landscape surrounding the 19th-century military outpost, including the Fort Union Cem and the original footprint of Fort Union. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevations such as Black Mesa and the winding Higgins Canyon, which provided essential shelter and water sources like Higgins Canyon Spring for travelers and soldiers alike. The map captures the path of the legendary Santa Fe Trl, which remains a visible scar on the high plains near the confluence of Wolf Cr and the Mora River. Researchers can trace the relationship between these early transit corridors and natural features like Wheeler Lake and Black Mesa Spring, illustrating how the arid geography of New Mexico dictated the placement of one of the Southwest's most significant defensive structures.