Fort Bayard

Click for map.

Past the modern hospital and a very few other things, one historic iteration of Fort Bayard still exists and may be visited. It seems sensible to have a look around while I am here. I'm not sure where to park and seem to have found a spot with nice shade, but a fair bit of garbage. Many of the roads nearby say things like "fire lane, no parking" so those are out. Whatever, a walk around can start wherever. The water tower is signed off limits, but there is a ruin off the other way to visit first.

The remains of a building upon the hill. No signs near it to say what, but likely staff quarters for the complex built 1902-1912.

The water tower area is off limits, probably it is still in use. Beside it was the nurses quarters built ~1910. (Another sign says 1908.)

Heading down off the hill to the edge of the parade grounds at the center of the old fort area, I can actually start to find out what I'm looking at. Signs have been put up for that purpose.

A row of six duplexes was officers housing. A sign at the other end describes when these went up and what was here before.

A bit of the history of the fort as a tuberculosis hospital and its part in the commitment to care for veterans as well as soldiers.

And some even older history of the fort hospital.

I could walk down officers' row, but instead I want to go up the hill past the water tower to the national cemetery.

Some of the New England bungalows built by the Veterans Administration.

Entry for the Fort Bayard National Cemetery.

There are a few signs to point out the history near the cemetery too. It was designated a national cemetery in 1976, but served the fort and the various hospitals before that. They note there are recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and Buffalo Soldiers buried here. A few of the men have a carving on the back of the stone for their wives buried with them. One nurse has her husband, I assume, memorialized on the back of her stone. While it usually says "his wife" or similar for the wives, it does not say that for the husband. It is surprising how few are with a wife.

Standing in the 1960s. There are quite a lot of memorials.

Standing sometime much earlier. Dates seem to be a modern invention. The older memorials have a crest, an abbreviated name, often a rank and/or division.

Then it is back down the hill to the parade grounds again. There is actually a parking lot meant for use just past the old checkpoint on the way in, as it turns out.

Only one of the shorter teeter-totters remain of the small playground.

Ah, the overview of it all. Perhaps it does matter where one starts on the circle around the parade grounds.

The restored theater that some of the signs refer to as a landmark.

Some random bits of color come up too, like this bit of cavalry history.

There is another restored building on the north end of the parade grounds by the flagpole, but no explanation about it. It seems to be or have been a meeting hall after restoration. The center now has a statue of one particular buffalo soldier and honors them generally. He is Cpl. Clinton Greaves, first recipient of the Medal of Honor in the local (within 125 miles) area.

The moment of heroism, as the artist sees it. Of course it's all about getting native Americans to and keeping them on reservations. Getting sent off to National Parks came later.

Off to the west, one of the officers row buildings stands somewhat restored. It is more of a reinforced thing with some distinctive differences between it and the others. It houses a museum that has some very limited open hours and a couple walking tours a month. If such is desired, one must plan carefully to catch it or arrange a private tour. Time for me to wrap up my own tour and head out.




©2019 Valerie Norton
Written 10 May 2019