Cantonment Burgwin facts for kids
Cantonment Burgwin, also known as Fort Burgwin, was a U.S. Army fort in the southwestern United States. It was located about 10 miles south of Taos, New Mexico, near Ranchos de Taos.
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History of Fort Burgwin
Building the Fort
Fort Burgwin was built in 1852. Its main purpose was to protect the people living in the Taos Valley. They needed protection from groups like the Utes and the Jicarilla Apache.
The fort was named after Captain John H. K. Burgwin. He was a brave soldier who died in 1847 while fighting at the Siege of Pueblo de Taos. He was even buried at the fort.
It was called a "cantonment" because it was meant to be a temporary military camp.
Key Battles and Changes
Fort Burgwin played a part in the Battle of Cieneguilla in 1854. This battle was fought between the 1st Cavalry Regiment and the Jicarilla Apache.
The U.S. Army stopped using Cantonment Burgwin in May 1860. It was left empty for many years.
Rebuilding and Research
Starting in 1957, some of the old buildings at the fort were rebuilt. This work continued until 2004. A person named Ralph Rounds helped pay for the first part of the rebuilding. After he passed away in 1960, the new buildings became known as the Fort Burgwin Research Center.
Later, William Clements, who was in charge of the board at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, gave more money. This helped build even more structures on the hills around Fort Burgwin.
Fort Burgwin Today
Today, the main buildings at Fort Burgwin look like the original ones from the outside. However, the inside of many buildings are modern. They are used as offices and classrooms.
The site is now the SMU-in-Taos campus. This is where Southern Methodist University offers college classes during the summer and fall. Students can even take part in an archaeology field school, where they learn about digging up old artifacts. There is also a Cultural Institute that offers fun weekend classes taught by SMU teachers.
Archaeologists, like Judith Thomas from Mercyhurst University, have studied the original fort to learn more about its past.
Geography
Fort Burgwin is located at a high elevation. It is about 7,400 feet (2,256 meters) above sea level.
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