SILVER CITY RESPITE
We spent a relaxing week in Silver City, NM. We parked at Manzano's RV park in the hills just outside of town. This quiet park was the perfect (full hookup) base for exploring Silver City and the surrounding Gila Wilderness. This was our first visit to the southwest corner of the state.
Silver City had its heyday in the 1870's when mining was king in the nearby mountains. (There is still a HUGE open pit copper mine operating just down the road.)
Today it is a small college town with a tourist and artistic bent. There is a food co-op, a brewery and lots of art studios and gallery's. We attended a contemporary chamber music concert and a flamenco concert during our stay.
Today it is a small college town with a tourist and artistic bent. There is a food co-op, a brewery and lots of art studios and gallery's. We attended a contemporary chamber music concert and a flamenco concert during our stay.
Silver City was the childhood home of Billy the Kid. His mother is buried in the local cemetary. We spotted this replica cabin @ the Visitor Center.
Gila Widerness Cliff Dwelling
One day we drove up the mountain to explore the cliff dwellings of the ancient Mogollon ( mo-go-yon)puebloan people. This particular dwelling was inhabited from1276-1300. It is set back in a small canyon with a flowing creek year round.
Gila Wilderness Catwalk
Another day we drove west of town into the historic mining communities to walk the "famous" catwalk above narrow canyon of Whitewater Creek. The catwalk was originally built as a series of wooden trusses and pipelines to bring water used to power a mill located at the mouth of the canyon. In the 1930's, the CCC built a structure to provide visitors access to the upper canyon- it has washed out and been repaired several times since.