Kingston: Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway, New Mexico

KINGSTON was a silver mining boom town - at one time, the largest settlement in the territory, with a population of 7000 people. It was also one of the wildest towns in the Wild West. Jack Sheddon's discovery of a rich lode of silver ore at the Solitaire Mine in 1882 marked the beginnings of a city that quickly boasted a bank, 22 saloons, 14 groceries, 3 hotels, 3 newspapers, a brewery, gambling halls, a British madam (Sadie Orchard) with a brothel on Virtue Avenue, and an opera house where Lillian Russell's troupe once performed. It has a wild history and was visited by many of the colorful and notorious figures of the day; one of its resident wits (Sheba Hurst) was immortalized by Mark Twain in his novel Roughing It. Several bad fires and the ravages of time have greatly reduced the number Kingston's historic buildings. Today Kingston is a quiet village of about 30 creative residents nestled in the majestic Black Range Mountains. Lodging, the Percha Valley Bank Museum of mining artifacts and antiques (open by appointment only), and a couple unique shops are offered. The large cemetery outside of town is still in use, and contains a large monument to a revolutionary war soldier buried there in an unmarked grave. The Spit & Whittle Club, the nation's oldest continuously-active social club, dates to 1888... and they're still meeting in the old schoolhouse. Photographers and landscape painters should plan to spend some time in this gateway to the Gila National Forest. Hiking, mountain biking, and camping are also popular.
	Please note that there is no gasoline available on the Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway west of Truth or Consequences / Williamsburg and Elephant Butte. This is the majority of the Trail, which runs through some very remote countryside. Fill your tank before you leave! Gasoline is available on Side Trip 5; or, if you choose to follow the Alternate Loop, gas is available at Silver City. Please also note that bridges between Caballo and Hillsboro bear twelve-foot, six-inch height restrictions; and the Forest Service advises not only that trailers over twenty feet are unsafe on Forest Development Road 150, but that low-clearance / non-four-wheel-drive vehicles travel that section of the Trail at their own risk.
What's on the web about Kingston?
(This will take you to our Links page.)
Next stop on the E-Tour: the Black Range Scenic Area...
	Enjoy the nature, history, and culture of southwest New Mexico - but don't disturb the natural, historical, and cultural sites. Do not remove, destroy, or deface anything on any site; strict laws protect artifacts on State, Federal, Indian, and private lands. Buying, selling, trading, or transporting these stolen items is also illegal. Please report looting and vandalism to federal land management authorities or the local sheriff. Hide all traces of your travels as the Apache hid their passing so these wildlands may remain unspoiled, the historical sites may remain true to their history, and the developed sites may remain clean and pleasant. Thank you.