Shakespeare, New Mexico

Shakespeare Ghost Town

Shakespeare in 2012, seen from the hill to the southeast.
Location Hidalgo County, New Mexico
Nearest city Lordsburg, New Mexico
Coordinates 32°19′32″N 108°44′18″W / 32.32556°N 108.73833°W / 32.32556; -108.73833Coordinates: 32°19′32″N 108°44′18″W / 32.32556°N 108.73833°W / 32.32556; -108.73833
Architectural style Greek Revival, Mexican Village
NRHP Reference # 73001141[1]
NMSRCP # 1329
Significant dates
Added to NRHP July 16, 1973
Designated NMSRCP February 21, 1969

Shakespeare is a ghost town in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States.[2] It is currently part of a privately owned ranch, sometimes open to tourists. The entire community was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1]

History

Shakespeare in 1976.

Founded as a rest stop called Mexican Springs along a stagecoach route, it was renamed Grant after the Civil War, after General U. S. Grant. When silver was discovered nearby it became a mining town called Ralston City, named after financier William Chapman Ralston. It was finally renamed Shakespeare, and was abandoned when the mines closed in 1929.

On November 9, 1881, Old West outlaws "Russian Bill" Tattenbaum and Sandy King, both cattle rustlers and former members of the Clanton faction of Charleston, Arizona Territory, were lynched in Shakespeare, and their bodies were left hanging for several days as a reminder to others that lawlessness would not be tolerated. The two had been captured by gunman "Dangerous Dan" Tucker, who at the time was the Shakespeare town marshal.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Shakespeare, New Mexico". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
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