Road Less Traveled: Columbus, New Mexico
Explore two border towns, a famous raid, planes, trains, and automobiles
Columbus, New Mexico, is a small, desert town bordering Mexico known for the raid by Pancho Villa’s men in 1916. BTW: It’s said that Pancho Villa wasn’t even there. Yes, you can see part of the border wall too.
What’s interesting about the response to the raid was that it was the first time the U.S. military used cars, trucks, the first armored vehicle, and planes. A railroad passed through Columbus between 1902 and 1961 which served General Pershing’s efforts from Camp Furlong into Mexico and during WWII, 40 trains a day.
Today, the Columbus Historical Society, Columbus Train Depot Museum, and Pancho Villa State Park Visitor Center and Museum preserve artifacts that tell stories of the raid, Camp Furlong and the efforts to track down Pancho Villa in Mexico. For instance, learn how a woman who called the National Guard from her switchboard for help during the raid, or what was used for refrigeration and making copies back in the day. See the 1915 Dodge Touring Car that took bullets from the raid, and the difference between saddles used in the U.S. and Mexico. Learn when not to flush the toilet on a train.
Enjoy birding, hiking, biking, dining, and interesting stories from history in US-Mexico border towns in Road Less Traveled: Columbus, New Mexico. Share on XWonderful outside displays give the sense of unloading baggage at the station, include a caboose and several fire trucks.
RV campers staying at the Pancho Villa State Park get admission to its museum for free, which includes a replica of one of the earliest armored vehicles, a Jeffery Quad, and a Curtiss JN3 Jenny biplane. The State Park also has a number of historical buildings, including a Customs House and judge’s office.
It’s a great area for birding, hiking, and biking. Drive to the mountains where some area trails cross the Continental Divide.
Enjoy several good options for eating out at the Borderland Café, The Patio Café, or Irma’s Restaurant.
The Mexican border town of Palomas is just a few miles away. Cross over for a little shopping and dining.
Curtiss JN4 Jenny biplane in Pancho Villa State Park Museum 
Pancho Villa State Park Museum 
Judge’s adobe building on Camp Furlong at Pancho Villa State Park 
Points of interest at Pancho Villa State Park 
1915 Dodge Touring Car with bullet holes from Pancho Villa gang’s raid 
Dodge Touring car at Pancho Villa State Park Museum 
Jeffrey Quad Armored truck at Pancho Villa State Park 
Columbus, NM 
Red caboose at Columbus Railroad Depot Museum 
Switchboard used to call National Guard during Pancho Villa gang’s raid 
Refrigeration display at Columbus Historical Society 
Early refrigeration techniques 
Refrigeration exhibit in Columbus Historical Society Museum 
Fire truck exhibit at Columbus Railroad Depot Museum 
Fire truck exhibit at Columbus Railroad Depot Museum 
Early copy machine at Columbus Historical Society Museum 
Early copy machine at Columbus Historical Society Museum 
Pancho Villa image 
When not to flush on a train…
1 Response
[…] Enjoy birding, hiking, biking, dining, and interesting stories from history in US-Mexico border towns in Road Less Traveled: Columbus, New Mexico. […]