New Mexico Historic Sites has announced "Ghosts of the Past: Folklore of New Mexico," an event set to take place at Fort Selden Historic Site five days before the full moon. The program will feature stories exploring the region's folklore.
According to the event webpage provided by New Mexico Historic Sites, the event will include a storyteller by the fire, with a ranger assisting guests in making s’mores. Attendees can engage in crafts with the Las Cruces library, carve and paint pumpkins, and observe a demonstration of Colcha embroidery.
Participants are encouraged to dress in 19th-century attire for a photo opportunity in a wagon. The event will also feature a stroll along a path lined with jack-o’-lanterns and live music by the fire at sunset. Activities are scheduled outdoors, so guests should dress appropriately for the weather. Doors open at 6 p.m., with admission priced at $7 for adults and free for children aged 16 and younger.
Fort Selden Historic Site has historical significance dating back to when the Mogollon people farmed the land as early as 400 A.D. By 1598, it was known as Paraje Robledo, a campsite along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Established in April 1865, Fort Selden aimed to maintain peace in the region and included African-American regiments known as Buffalo Soldiers. The fort was abandoned in 1891 as military needs changed and hostilities diminished.
New Mexico Historic Sites is part of the Department of Cultural Affairs and overseen by the Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents. Established in 1931 to preserve the state’s scientific resources, it includes eight active sites such as Coronado and Fort Stanton. Others like Pecos and Gran Quivira have been transferred to the National Park Service, while five sites remain inactive due to various reasons.