Cooke's Pass facts for kids

Cooke's Pass, also known as Massacre Canyon, is a narrow opening in the Cookes Range in Luna County, New Mexico. It's like a natural pathway through the mountains. The highest point of the pass is about 5,100 feet above sea level. It sits between Fryingpan Canyon to the west and the upper part of Cooke's Canyon to the east, near Cooke's Spring. You can find Cooke's Pass just north of Massacre Peak.

History of Cooke's Pass

Early Travel Routes

Cooke's Pass was a very important route for travelers long ago. The Southern Emigrant Trail went right through it. This trail was used by many people moving west.

It was also part of major mail routes. These included the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line and the famous Butterfield Overland Mail. These lines used stagecoaches to carry mail and passengers across the country.

Why it's Called Massacre Canyon

The pass earned its other name, Massacre Canyon, during a difficult time. This was during the Apache Wars. These conflicts happened after an event called the Bascom affair.

Before this, the Apache people were often friendly with American travelers. But tensions grew, leading to conflicts. During these times, stagecoach stations and coaches were sometimes attacked. Many people traveling or working on the mail lines lost their lives.

Cooke's Pass became a common place for these conflicts. This is how it got the name Massacre Canyon. One well-known event was the Battle of Cookes Canyon.

Fort Cummings

To help protect travelers, Fort Cummings was built. This happened near the end of the American Civil War. The fort was located close to Cooke's Spring and the stage station. Its main job was to keep people safe as they traveled through the pass.