The village of Cimarron has a lot to offer sightseers and those interested in the history of the American Southwest. Several museums and historical sites in the area discuss the history and culture of this part of New Mexico. Some are located in Cimarron, and others are owned by Philmont Scout Ranch, the local Boy Scout High Adventure base., New Mexico
The Gristmill Museum
Built in the early 1860s by local land baron Lucien Maxwell, the Gristmill was intended to grind corn and wheat into flour to sell to the local Indian Agency, which oversaw the local Ute and Jicirilla Apache Indian tribes. Today it is a museum that is owned by the CS Cattle Company, and houses a treasure trove of artifacts and curiosities from the Old West. These include photographs, newspaper articles, period clothing, ranching artifacts, and Scouting memorabilia. A modest fee is charged for viewing the museum, and Scout groups get a discount.
The St. JamesHotel
Built in the 1800s, this building still operates today as a hotel and restaurant for tourists. Known for having shootouts, the building is supposedly haunted, and was featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, which is available to view in the lobby. Famous outlaws such as Billy the Kid, Clay Allison, and Black Jack Ketchum were known to have stayed there. There is no cost to visit the main gallery and view the video.
The Seton Memorial Museum and Library
Owned and operated by Philmont, the Seton is named after Ernest Thompson Seton, one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America. The museum has displays themed toward Philmont and Scouting, while the library houses the papers of Ernest Seton, as well as historical documents of Philmont. There is a gift shop with books on the area and Southwestern jewelry. The museum and library do not charge admission.
The Kit Carson Museum at Rayado
This is a living history museum owned by Philmont. Philmont staff dress in period costume and provide tours of Kit Carson’s fort, which has been rebuilt and restored. There is a working blacksmith’s shop, a carpentry shop, a garden, and a working Southwestern oven, called an orno. There is also an axe-throwing yard, where Scouts and visitors can practice throwing tomahawks.
A gift shop designed like a trading post has items that would have been commonly found during the time of the Santa Fe Trail. Once a year the museum hosts a pre-Civil War era reenactment group that brings to life what a U.S. Army surveyor’s unit would look like. There is no charge for admission. Across the street from the Kit Carson Museum is the Rayado Chapel, a small Catholic chapel, and next to the museum are buildings that were once owned by the Abreu family.
Note: The author is a member of the 2008 Philmont staff.
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