Wagon Mound, New Mexico – On the Santa Fe Trail – Legends of America
Okay, picture this: you’re cruising down the old Santa Fe Trail, right? Back in the day, it was the highway of the Wild West. And there, smack dab in the middle of nowhere (well, Mora County, New Mexico, to be exact), you’d see it: Wagon Mound.
What’s a Wagon Mound?
Good question! It’s basically a big ol’ butte that looks kinda like a covered wagon from a distance. Think of it as the ancient GPS for pioneers trekking across the plains. It was a super important landmark, especially for those brave (or crazy) souls taking the Cimarron Cutoff. Before hooking back up with the Mountain Branch near Watrous.
Imagine seeing that rock formation after days of endless prairie – you’d know you were on the right track! They even said it was the "last great natural landmark" before Santa Fe. Pretty cool, huh? Today, the Wagon Mound is a National Historic Landmark.
Watering Hole and More
A few miles away, in Santa Clara Canyon, there were springs known as Ojo de Santa Clara. Wagon Mound was visible from 125 miles away, so it was the destination for travelers who were thirsty. It was the perfect place to camp and get some water.
Land Grants and Taxmen
Fast forward to 1845: The Mexican government (this was before New Mexico was part of the U.S.) gave a big chunk of land to a guy named Gervacio Nolan. This Nolan Grant, or Santa Clara Grant, included the Wagon Mound area.
Rumor has it there was even a tax collection station nearby back when Mexico was in charge. Later, it became a stagecoach stop. Talk about a happening place!
Trouble on the Trail
But it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. The Santa Fe Trail could be a dangerous place. In 1849, a Santa Fe resident named Dr. H. White and his family were attacked by Indians near Wagon Mound. White and eleven of his party were killed, and his wife, child, and nurse were kidnapped. The incident became known as the White Massacre.
The people in Santa Fe were outraged! They sent out a posse to chase the attackers. One of the posse members, William Kroenig, described how they found Mrs. White’s body and rescued some of the Indian children. Sadly, the nurse and Dr. White’s child were never found.
And that wasn’t the only tragedy. In 1850, another group of travelers was attacked near Wagon Mound in what became known as the Wagon Mound Massacre.
Fort Union to the Rescue
These attacks made it clear: something had to be done to protect travelers. That’s why Fort Union was built in 1851. After Fort Union was built, a road branched off near Wagon Mound to the fort and connected to the Mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail in New Mexico.
Building a Community
Despite the dangers, people were drawn to the Wagon Mound area. The area’s lush meadows and reliable water source attracted ranchers and business people. A community started to grow, originally called Santa Clara. By 1870, there were almost 90 families living there!
The Railroad Arrives!
Things really took off when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad chugged into town in 1879. Suddenly, Wagon Mound wasn’t so isolated anymore. More people moved in, and the town started to boom. The town got its own post office in 1881. The name Pinkerton was already in use, so they named it Wagon Mound the following year.
Businesses popped up along Railroad Avenue, right next to the train tracks. Wagon Mound became a popular stopover for people heading to Las Vegas, New Mexico.
From Sheep to Beans
Ranching and farming became big business in the area. At first, cattle were the main thing, but later, sheep took over. The railroad even built a special sheep-dipping plant! Dry farming, especially pinto beans, also became a primary local industry.
By 1900, Wagon Mound was a happening place. It had a big school, churches, mercantile houses, grocery stores, bakeries, blacksmith shops, hotels, restaurants, saloons, dairies, and even a weekly newspaper! There was also a stagecoach line that went to nearby towns.
The Santa Clara Hotel
The Santa Clara Hotel and restaurant was built by Epimenio Martinez, one of Wagon Mound’s leading citizens. It was a popular place for salesmen and other visitors to stay. The Santa Clara Hotel is still standing today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bean Day
In 1909, the local farmers and ranchers started a Labor Day festival called the Mora County Farmers Harvest Jubilee. Today, it’s still celebrated as Bean Day!
Tough Times and a Comeback?
Unfortunately, Wagon Mound’s good times didn’t last forever. The rise of the automobile changed everything. The railroad stopped running passenger trains, and a new highway bypassed the town. The Santa Clara Hotel was sold and it was no longer a hotel in the early 1960s.
The town’s population shrunk from over 1,100 in 1950 to just a few hundred today. The hotel went through several owners. Today, the buildings are vacant.
Wagon Mound Today
As of the 2020 census, Wagon Mound has a population of just 266 people. But it still has a school and a Catholic church. And it’s still a trading center for the surrounding area.
So, next time you’re driving through New Mexico, take a detour to Wagon Mound. Check out the historic sites, imagine what life was like back in the Wild West, and maybe even grab a plate of pinto beans!