The community is invited to celebrate the unveiling of an interpretive
exhibit on historic Fort Marcy and a brief tour of the site on Saturday, May 4,
2013 at 10 a.m. This event is part of the Heritage Preservation
Month.
Constructed
in 1846, at the outset of the Mexican-American War, Fort Marcy was the only
earthen fort built in New Mexico by Brigadier General Stephen Watts Kearny’s
Army of the West. Abandoned in 1847, wind and rain soon began to wear away its
adobe walls, turning the onetime fort into an informal
playground.
Today,
the site consists of the remains of the irregular six-sided “star”-shaped fort,
a moat and a blockhouse. It is listed on the State and National Registers and is
a certified site along the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. Part of Prince
Park, the former fort is a popular picnic spot and offers panoramic views of
Santa Fe.
Following
the unveiling ceremony, archaeologist Ron Winters will lead a short guided tour
of the fort. Families are encouraged to join the tour, as children can earn a
Junior Ranger badge for their participation.
The
event is sponsored by the City of Santa Fe, National Park Service, and the End
of the Trail chapter, Santa Fe Trail Association.
Photo from the Yale University Archives
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