Tuesday, January 6 - We had a little thawing out to do this morning. Got down to 21* over-night and our hose was a frozen popsicle. The camp host visited everyone today and told us to bring our hose in. It is getting below freezing again tonight. What is with this weather?
We visited the museum here at Pancho Villa State Park. We watched an excellent video narrated by people who actually lived through the raid.
Outside the museum is an armored vehicle used in the battle in 1916. Later they were renamed tanks.
In 1916, under the leadership of General Francisco Pancho Villa, a group of over 300 Mexican Revolutionaries raided the small border town of Columbus, NM.
Prior to the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, Pancho Villa SP is on the site of the last attack by a foreign power against the continental United States.
Believe it or not, all the transportation vehicles in the next photo were used by the US to secure Columbus, NM.
Nothing signaled an army undergoing change more clearly than the sight of General Pershing riding across Mexico in the rear of a Dodge touring car. This Dodge carried him as far south as the advance camp at Namiquipa and helped him stay in contact with his far-ranging cavalry units.
The Museum contains extensive historical exhibits which depict this raid, the first armed invasion of the continental United States since the War of 1812, and also the last one. The Museum is a must see if you are visiting Deming or Columbus, NM.
The State Park is on the exact site where General Perishing and his men set up camp. There are several remaining buildings on the grounds.
This is the first grease rack installed to service the US Army automotive equipment engaged in field operations.
Headquarters building at Camp Furlong.
Cootes Hill is named after Captain Cootes of the 13th Cavalry. It was an important lookout for soldiers based at Camp Furlong. From this vantage point, Mexico can be seen a few miles to the south.
View from the top of the hill looking towards Mexico.
Columbus played an amazing the role of this tiny New Mexico town on American history.
We learned another very interesting fact about Columbus, NM. While Columbus is not in the mountains, it has ranges on all four sides. East and North are the Florida Mountain range; West and North is the Tres Hermanas Range; South is the Sierra de los Palomas.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!
My advice is "drink bottled water", Marsha. And don't forget to practice your Duck calls. Thanks for sharing a great history lesson. Lot of clouds in that blue sky there! Hope it warms up a bit for you. It's nice and sunny in Eugene today...home of the soon to be National Football Champions...University of Oregon Ducks.
ReplyDeleteAnd coincidentally, we are boondocking tonight outside of Pancho Villa's last residence at the Hacienda in Canutillo, Mexico. He lived here for three years until his murder in 1923.
ReplyDeletewww.travelwithkevinandruth.com
Once you get a little farther west you'll be able to ditch the cold weather gear during the day. The weather was beautiful today and it's just going to get nicer over the next few days. You'll be leaving those icy temperatures behind.
ReplyDeleteThat is very interesting history. I have never really had much exposure to that struggle.
ReplyDeleteYou need to get further west. Absolutely beautiful weather today. Loved your history lesson and this is definitely somewhere I would like to visit.
ReplyDeleteWe have stayed at Pancho Villa State Park a couple times & the second time we got snowed on & we too were frozen popsicles in our light weight 5th wheel. We really enjoyed going down to Palamas 3 miles south & slipping over the border to the Pink Store. We just loved that place with all it's artsy crafts & colors & live festive music.. We also had dental work done & eye glasses made in the plaza behind the Pink Store. At the Park we used to climb through the southwest corner of the fence to walk with our dogs in the open fields there. If you see a mound in the ground to your south that is where the army camp was bulldozed to when dismantled. You can still find lots of old thick broken colored glass there from the army camp days.
ReplyDeleteWhen John saw on your last blog where you were staying, I got a history lesson on exactly where you were:) Glad you got to have the lesson, also:)
ReplyDeleteBoy, that is so cold. We finally warmed up at night and I was able to take the down comforter off the bed. Hope you see improvement soon:)
Yep its cold there, but will get better, Looks like a very nice state park.
ReplyDeleteThere was a local historical society museum there also. Great rock hounding in that area. Lots of agate. Come on over to Arizona, warm here now.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to following along behind you guys. . .anxious to see how far you go to find the good weather. . .hurry up already. . .LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe only day we've been close enough to see Mexico (entry point at Del Rio) it was too rainy and cold to get pics. . .maybe tomorrow on our day trip to Big Bend. . .
Safe travels. . .find somewhere warm soon.
Glad you enjoyed the museum as much as we did. We've been there a couple of times. We usually just fill the fresh water tank and don't mess with the hose in those kind of temps. Not worth the hassle. Don't forget the train musuem it's not as good as the state park, but worth the stop.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great place to learn new facts of our history. Thanks for sharing! You seem to be too far east. It is supposed to be 80 here in Borrego Springs.
ReplyDeleteA great history tour, thanks!
ReplyDelete