Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site — Attraction in Fort Sumner

This place was highly informative and extensive. We stumbled here on accident and had my eyes open to a whole new world of history. And more importantly, I misread the closing time, and didn’t know they had closed while we were there. However the friendly staff didn’t inform us until 1/2 hour after closing. They let us learn and they took their own time for us. All super kind. I would have loved to visit the gift shop but thats my own fault for time management. Id recommend everyone taking the time to go learn and explore. I couldn’t compliment this place any higher. Thank everyone here for an amazing informative experience for my whole family. I will be coming back (not right before they close lol) to learn what i missed and take it all in and buy a gift! I don’t think I have ever actually left a review before this one but between the graphics they had in the way they decided to present the information between sounds, and lights and artifacts, and even art I was thoroughly impressed and I could’ve spent more time in there, and still not taking it all in I feel like this was important information for me and my kids to learn. My family also did not have time to look at the livestock they had, and the walk which I feel would have even more of an impact, and I am very excited to return to this. It is well worth the time and money with all the effort they have put into the information and how you learned at this establishment. I also truly loved how they played in the museum that they will continue to grow incorrect information as they learn new information. It was all very clean and well put together I could continue raving on. for a small town in the middle of nowhere this is well worth every single penny. If you read my review and you’re considering going definitely do it. thank you for reading my book...

This site, like many of the historic locations of NM, revolves around both a contradiction of narratives, and the clash of cultures.

On one hand, the site speaks to the importance of the westward migration of a fledgling United States during the mid-to-late 19th century. Uniforms and other US army artifacts on display, the fort's remnants are available to view, and the barracks building, full of accoutrements, is open to the public to view. On the other hand, the site speaks to the suffering meted out to other peoples in order for that "manifest destiny" to sweep through.

At its heart, the Bosque Redondo Memorial is a testament to the resilience of the Navajo and Apache peoples; The story of those who were denied their agency by the federal army and government is related through murals, displays, and a video presentation in the museum building. The grounds also contain a remembrance area, right on the path to the old fort ruins.

Taken as a whole, The Fort Sumner Historical site / Bosque Redondo Memorial is well worth a visit. It tells the story of our westward expansion, but does so in an unflinching way, not shying away from the human toll that was paid by those who were removed and dehumanized in order to facilitate the growth of...

This place is basically a "victim's statement" for the Navajo and Apache who were imprisoned here. It reeks of bias and is lacking in objectivity. Expressions like "concentration camp" are used for the purpose of drawing up images of barbed wire, gas chambers, cremation ovens, etc. though that expression did not exist in the 1860's.

There are always two sides to every historical event and this place fails in that regard. What's supremely ironic is that just a few miles away at the Old Fort Sumner Cemetery is a plaque to.a Navajo woman who was abducted and enslaved by the Apache before being rescued and finding employment with the Maxwell family (local landowners). i wonder if the Apache Nation or the Navajo Nation want to build a memorial for all the victims of their endless wars. There's a statement on the wall of the Museum that the Navajo were living in "peace" before the settlers and the army showed up. Nothing could be further from the truth. The historical evidence shows centuries of warfare and raiding. In other words they were behaving like just about all humans on the planet - occasionally at peace and occasionally at war with all that entails. Here though, it's all about being a victim and self...