NPS's Plan for the Glorieta Unit
excerpted from the National Park Service's Draft General Management Plan for Pecos, 1996
The Bottom Line
The primary objectives under the proposed action for the Glorieta unit would be to preserve the cultural landscape and interpret the Civil War battle that took place in the area. To accomplish these objectives a core battlefield zone was identified during the planning process. The zone includes the key vantage points used during the battle: Sharpshooter's Ridge, Windmill Hill, and Artillery Hill. As much as is feasible, structures and other features that were not present during the time of the battle would be removed. The landscape and structures that were present at the time of the battle would be stabilized and preserved in a way that would prevent the disturbance of archaeological resources.
Facilities
Contemporary facilities would be developed outside of the core battlefield zone to accommodate visitor access and provide opportunities for visitors to understand the area's history. Sensitive site selection would minimize intrusions of these facilities on archaeological sites and the rest of the historic scene.
Re-routing NM 50
The Federal Highway Administration and New Mexico Highway Department are investigating the possibility of re-routing NM 50 by way of a new interchange with I-25 southeast of the Pigeon's Ranch area. If NM 50 was relocated out of the Glorieta unit, the site would be developed for visitor use and interpretation. The public acquisition of all the properties in the Glorieta unit would need to occur before full development or public access and closure of the road to through traffic would be implemented. In addition, reasonable alternative access would have to be available to those landowners outside the unit that are presently served by the access easement near the Pigeon's Ranch structure.
The existing paved road would end at a 20-car, 4-oversized vehicle parking area near the east boundary of the unit. A staffed contact station incorporated in an existing structure would provide orientation to the site and would interpret the battle of Glorieta and its role in the Civil War. The site's relationship to the other park units would also be explained. Restrooms would be provided at the parking area.
The remainder of the road through the unit would be reduced in width and returned to a gravel surface for foot travel to reflect the historic experience of travel on the Santa Fe Trail.
Pigeon's Ranch & Trails
The Pigeon's Ranch structure would be stabilized and interpreted from the outside. A 3-mile loop trail would be constructed to interpret the battlefield landmarks, such as Sharpshooter's Ridge, Windmill Hill, and Artillery Hill, to help visitors visualize the scene and events that took place during the battle.
Additional research would be needed to identify any other Glorieta battlefield features that would need to be preserved and interpreted as part of the Santa Fe Trail scene or the Civil War battle. The trails in this unit would be linked with the new Santa Fe trail when it is developed.
A small pullout would be developed near Windmill Hill at an existing disturbed site to provide access from the west. Here, a short trail would lead to a panoramic view of the battlefield, which would be accompanied by an interpretive exhibit. The trail would continue to the top of Windmill Hill for another panoramic view and the further interpretation of the strategic use of the hill during the battle. This interpretive stop would provide visitors with the story of the battle from a perspective of Confederate troops moving through the area from the west.
Cañoncito Subunit
Because Cañoncito (Johnson's Ranch/Apache Canyon) would be best interpreted from an overlook, an interpretive exhibit with spaces for 10 cars and 4 oversized vehicles would be developed off the access road from I-25. Interpretation would explain the Civil War battle events that occurred at and near this site and the relationship of this unit to other areas in the park. The National Park Service would work cooperatively with the Forest Service and the Conservation Fund to develop an overlook trail to the top of the mesa. The new Santa Fe trail would be linked with the interpretive overlook when it is developed.
The Bottom Line
The cost of implementing the NPS's Glorieta Unit preservation plan as outlined above was estimated to be just under one million dollars in 1996. The bulk of this amount would go to constructing a new interchange for re-routing NM 50, and the rest would go to acquiring the remaining privately-owned land in the core battlefield area, stabilizing the Pigeon's Ranch structure, and developing trails and exhibits.