Airplane, Forts and Town Squares
Today is Thursday and we had the truck and the RV washed today before we went out to see anything. These two guys came by the park yesterday and we made an appointment for them to come back today to wash both the truck and RV. You would not believe the dirt we picked up in Texas and some here in New Mexico. It rained one day and I swear it rained mud balls the whole time. The truck was covered in it and you could not see out the windows. Now it looks great again.
Our first stop today was at a WWII airplane and car museum. We enjoyed seeing all the old planes and we had a fellow that was a volunteer who took up with us. He took us around and showed us all the stuff and let us go inside some of the planes that others were not allowed to. It was cool. The museum was started by a husband and wife who were pilots and collected some (airplanes) and started the exhibits and then others donated to the project, until it turned into a big project and needed a hanger and other buildings. They added those to support the cars they also collected.
This is a 1972 Honda the Yellow one and it is one of the first to be imported to the US. I remember these but had forgotten how small they were back in the day.
The white one is a 1973 Honda.
After the airplanes we went to the old Fort Selden located north of Las Cruces. It was a fort occupied by Buffalo Soldiers and they established the Fort to protect the Mesilla Valley from the Mexicans, Indians and others who would harass the whites coming to this area to steal land. There is not much left of the fort but a few walls. The fort was established in 1865 and closed in 1868.
This is what is left of the old Fort. They took the wood from the roof and then the rain and wind eroded the rest of the walls and most of the Fort.
This was the assemble or parade grounds.
After the Fort we went to Mesilla, New Mexico and then to the old town square of Mesilla. It was neat because they had shops around the town square where a lot of history was created. For example, they had one shop which was the old courthouse and jail. It was also where Billy the Kid was tried for murder and sentenced to hang. Very interesting place.
This is a plaque hanging in the building, shown below, which was the old court house and jail where Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to hang.
One of the oldest churches in New Mexico
Our first stop today was at a WWII airplane and car museum. We enjoyed seeing all the old planes and we had a fellow that was a volunteer who took up with us. He took us around and showed us all the stuff and let us go inside some of the planes that others were not allowed to. It was cool. The museum was started by a husband and wife who were pilots and collected some (airplanes) and started the exhibits and then others donated to the project, until it turned into a big project and needed a hanger and other buildings. They added those to support the cars they also collected.
This is a 1972 Honda the Yellow one and it is one of the first to be imported to the US. I remember these but had forgotten how small they were back in the day.
The white one is a 1973 Honda.
This plane is like those that were on my ship the USS Shangra-La. As a matter of fact the
USS Forrestal and the Shang were in port together some of the time in Mayport, FL.
After the airplanes we went to the old Fort Selden located north of Las Cruces. It was a fort occupied by Buffalo Soldiers and they established the Fort to protect the Mesilla Valley from the Mexicans, Indians and others who would harass the whites coming to this area to steal land. There is not much left of the fort but a few walls. The fort was established in 1865 and closed in 1868.
This is what is left of the old Fort. They took the wood from the roof and then the rain and wind eroded the rest of the walls and most of the Fort.
This was the assemble or parade grounds.
This is part of the parade ground where they marched. 
After the Fort we went to Mesilla, New Mexico and then to the old town square of Mesilla. It was neat because they had shops around the town square where a lot of history was created. For example, they had one shop which was the old courthouse and jail. It was also where Billy the Kid was tried for murder and sentenced to hang. Very interesting place.
This is a plaque hanging in the building, shown below, which was the old court house and jail where Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to hang.
One of the oldest churches in New Mexico
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