Columbus Historical Museum
Every year thousands of people "Discover Columbus". Columbus is a high desert community and its clear, dry, warm weather with low humidity and no pollution draw many visitors. The "Land of Enchantment" sun shines on Columbus nearly 355 days a year.
Located 32 miles south of I-10 at Deming and three miles north of the U.S/ Mexico border, the village was designated a National Historic Site in 1975. Columbus -- the site of Gen. Francisco "Pancho" Villa's infamous 1916 raid, has played an important role in the history of our country.
Several structures in Columbus survived Villa's attack on the town: the now restored U.S. Customs house; Camp Furlong Recreation Hall (now a state park office); and the Hoover Hotel, to name a few.
The U.S. Army's first grease rack for motor vehicles can be seen in Pancho Villa State Park (formerly Camp Furlong).
The site of the First Aero Squadron is another interesting historical spot.
The Columbus Historical Society has restored the old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, built in 1902 and now the home of the Columbus Historical Museum, open daily except for major holidays.
The attractions of Columbus are numerous: the charm of the village and its talented, energetic residents; a thriving community theater group; the beautiful sunsets; the stark beauty of the landscape, broken by outlines of the Tres Hermanas and Florida mountains in the distance; the successful blending of Anglo and Hispanic cultures; and one of the nicest State Parks in New Mexico.
The quaint Mexican border town of Las Palomas is just three miles south of Columbus and for those with a taste for big city attractions, it's just a short one-hour drive to El Paso, Texas, 65 miles to the east.
Columbus was a sleepy border town until the arrival of the El Paso & Southwestern Railroad, linking El Paso, Texas and Douglas, Arizona. When the railroad company built the depot in 1902, the village moved three miles north to its current location.
Columbus soon became a flourishing community and at one time boasted a school, housing grades one-12, three hotels, a bank, three drugstores, two general mercantile stores, two grocery stores, a Coca-Cola bottling plant, a theater, two furniture stores, a blacksmith shop, and a laundry. The population expanded from 100 in 1905 to over 700 in 1915.
The Mexican Revolution began in 1910, and because of the unstable conditions existing at the time, U.S. Army camps were established along the border. In 1912, the 13th Cavalry Regiment established Camp Furlong, just south of the depot. The 21 officers and 532 soldiers stationed there were responsible for patrolling 65 miles north of the border to the east and west of town.
The element of complete surprise favored Villa. The U.S. cavalrymen were outnumbered three to one and handicapped by not having immediate access to the munitions building. The soldiers rallied quickly, however, and soon the Villistas were driven out of Camp Furlong and into the village, where the battle raged on. Stores were looted, the owner and guests of the Commercial Hotel were shot and killed, and surrounding buildings were set on fire.
By daybreak, the invaders had been driven out. When the smoke had cleared, 10 civilians and eight U.S. soldiers lay dead with 12 people wounded. Estimates of 142 Villistas lay dead, scattered in town, at Camp Furlong, and along the escape route to the Mexican border.
General John "Black Jack" Pershing commanded the U.S. Punitive Expeditionary force from Camp Furlong, pursuing Villa deep into Mexico. It was the first time in American history that motorized vehicles and aircraft were used in warfare. The First Aero Squadron flew from the nation's first operational airbase in Columbus. A fleet of trucks, some staff cars, and eight obsolete biplanes were hastily shipped to Columbus. March 15, Pershing led some 10,000 U.S. Expedition troops into Mexico.
The pursuit, however, was in vain.
Villa and his army escaped into the mountains. In the nearly trackless, barren, Chihuahuan desert of Mexico, the trucks bogged down often and fuel for them had to be transported by trucks, wagons, and even on muleback.
The planes were too fragile and underpowered for the task demanded of them and did not last out the campaign. Pershing's soldiers encountered dust storms, parching heat and bone-chilling cold on their 11-month journey which penetrated as far as 516 miles into Mexico.
The Expedition returned to Columbus Feb. 5, 1917. Pershing soon sailed off to Western Europe to lead U.S. troops into World War I.
Villa continued his career as Mexican revolutionary leader until 1920, when he retired. He was assassinated July 20, 1923 at Parral, in southern Chihuahua.
Camp Furlong troops were diminished yearly, until the base was closed for good in 1926. The closing caused a slump in the population (which soared to 11,000 people shortly after the raid) and economy of Columbus. Many businesses folded.
In 1922, the El Paso & Southwestern Railroad was purchased by Southern Pacific. On December 19, 1961 the Sunset Limited made the last run over the tracks, which were removed shortly thereafter.
Today the village is a refuge for retirees, artists, and those seeking solitude and the advantages of small-town living.
Fiesta de Amistad is held the second Sunday in March in conjunction with Raid Day, the commemoration of those killed in Pancho Villa's 1916 attack on the town. This festival aims to promote friendship and goodwill between the people of Mexico and the U.S., and to spur economic development along the southwestern New Mexico border.
A blending of Anglo and Hispanic cultures is evident at the Columbus Festival Parade, the second Saturday in October. Columbus, N.M. and Palomas, Mexico consider themselves "sister cities".
To be continued...