July 4, 1831 - Union County, NM
Posted by: 
The Snowdog
N 36° 41.555 W 103° 03.869
13S E 672915 N 4062516
A stone monument erected in 1921 commemorating the first "authentic" Fourth of July celebration in present-day Union County, New Mexico
Waymark Code: WM12RX6
Location: New Mexico, United States
Date Posted: 07/09/2020
Views: 1
This stone monument commemorates the first "authentic" Fourth of July celebration, conducted by members of a freight caravan en route to Santa Fe, on what is present-day Union County; the area was part of Mexico at the time. The marker was erected in 1921 and bears this text:
1831 1921
Here, on the morning of July 4th,
1831, the day was appropriately
celebrated by citizens of the
United States, members of a
freight caravan en route from
Independence, Mo., to Santa
Fe, recorded by Josiah Gregg,
member of the party.
This is the first authentic
observance of this character
on present Union County soil,
the Territory then being a part
of the Republic of Mexico.
Marked by the Fred J. Tuttle
Post No 27 the American Legion,
cot. N. Mex, July 4th, 1921.
J. P. Miller, Port Co dr.
J. V. Jenner, Post Adjt.
There is parking on the highway nearby. The property owner has granted permission to enter the field and access this marker and a geocache (
GC66YTD McNee's Crossing) further down this trail. Be aware that open-range cattle might be present.