Historical Marker
Civilian Conservation Corps, Camp #831
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a federal program established during the Great Depression to provide jobs for the nation’s young men. #831 was one of the first CCC camps in New Mexico. The men stationed here provided most of the labor to develop Bottomless Lakes State Park. Dedicated in 1933, this park was built on land purchased by the citizens of Chaves County and donated to the State.
In the early 1800s, New Mexico became an important center for trade along the Santa Fe Trail, which connected Missouri to Santa Fe. The trail was used by traders, trappers, and settlers to transport goods and supplies across the frontier.