Historical Marker
Pancho Villa State Park
Historical marker location:
NM Highway 9 and NM Highway 11, Columbus, New Mexico
( Pancho Villa State Park near east gate)
You are on land once occupied by Camp Furlong, staging grounds for General John J. Pershing’s 500-mile expedition by 10,000 troops into Mexico in pursuit of General Francisco “Pancho” Villa. Four camp buildings remain in the park, including the 1902 U.S. Customs House which was built alongside the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad tracks. The Village of Columbus and Camp Furlong Historic District became a National Historic Landmark in 1975.
The state has a rich tradition of cowboy culture and rodeo, with many annual events celebrating this heritage. One of the most famous is the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which features hundreds of hot air balloons and draws thousands of visitors each year.