Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Tom has been talking about it and so today we took a ride North of here to Silver City. After arriving we realized we really would like to spend more time then one afternoon in the area. So as we took a quick ride through the town we decided it would be nice to come back, possibly in the spring if we decide to come this way and we are leaning towards that decision, on our way back to Michigan. We checked out a RV Park that we would be happy at so we will see what happens as this adventure unfolds.
Some of the views on US-180 as we make our way North.
This was a surprise and interesting to learn about.
This Visitor Center was worth the stop. The gentleman inside
was very informative and fun to speak with.
Silver City is a town in Grant County, New Mexico, United States. It lies just east of the Continental Divide, at an altitude of 5,931 feet (1,808 metres) in the foothills of the Pinos Altos Range, on the edge of Gila National Forest (of which it is headquarters). It is the county seat and the home of Western New Mexico University (1893). Fort Bayard State Hospital and Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument are nearby.
The valley where Silver City is located was known as San Vicente in the early 18th century, it would undoubtedly have been a permanent Spanish or Mexican settlement if not for the continuing Apache hostilities. In 1870 when silver was discovered nearby, the town of Silver City was christened, even though many old-timers in the region wanted to keep the original name of San Vicente.
Silver City was founded with the future in mind, unlike the many Western frontier towns that have vanished into a memory. Frustrated in its early efforts to establish local government and a public school system, Grant County threatened to defect to Arizona in 1876, promoting a profound change of heart in the Territorial legislature. As a result, Silver City is the oldest unincorporated town in New Mexico, and the only one still operating under a Territorial charter. It boasts the oldest public school system in the state. It is a town that was built to last, and as a result is rich with surviving historic neighborhoods to tell the stories of its visionary founders. (Information from the Internet)
We took a quick ride around Silver City.
What a charming small town.
Leaving Silver City we headed back south on US-180 and then turned left on NM-152 to check out the Santa Rita Copper Mine.
The Chino Mine, also known as the Santa Rita mine, also known as Santa Rita del Cobre, is an open-pit porphyry copper mine located in the town of Santa Rita, New Mexico,a ghost town in Grant County, 15 miles east of Silver City. It is the third oldest, still active open-pit copper mine in the entire world. The Chino mine is the largest porphyry copper deposit in New Mexico. The pit is currently ~1.75 miles across and 1,350 feet deep. The Apaches were the first to notice native copper lying on the ground in a valley northwest of Santa Rita Mountain. The mine was started as the Chino Copper Company in 1909 by mining engineer John M. Sully and Spencer Penrose, and is currently owned and operated by Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (Information from the Internet)
I had seen this on the map then forgot
about it
The sun and blue sky are trying to join us.
Having left the viewing area we are continuing on NM-152.
This road does connect to I-25 and just the short time we
were on it would not want to take it with the Stinger "B".
Fun to go up and down the hills and
around curves in the Jeep though.
We turned onto NM-61 which will bring us by the
City of Rocks State Park.
We definitely know we have a river on our left by the
abundance of trees.
We drove in and stopped at the pay station.
We decided it was not worth the $5.00 to go in.
If we had taken a lunch and made it a destination we
would have but not today.
Back on US- 180 and headed South and home.
It was a nice ride and we enjoyed the afternoon.
We are glad you stopped by!
If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.
