Smokey Bear Historical Park

The park grew in stages. Capitan first told the cub's story in a log cabin museum, opened in 1960; a memorial park was added in 1976 to receive his remains, and the park was completed in 1979. Its two acres lay out six of New Mexico's vegetative life zones along the plant trail the panel mentions, and the village's original railroad depot stands on the grounds. A commemorative Smokey Bear stamp was issued here on August 13, 1984, and the state Forestry Division has run the park since 1992.

What the plaque says

Official Scenic Historic Marker Smokey Bear Historical Park This park commemorates Smokey Bear and describes the history and development of this national symbol of forest fire prevention. The original Smokey is buried here within sight of the mountain where he was found orphaned by a fire raging in the Lincoln National Forest. The park offers extensive historical exhibits as well as a trail that identifies native plants.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Smokey Bear Historical Park — 0.2 mi
  The small park in Capitan where the living Smokey Bear is buried, a cub found clinging to a burned tree in the Capitan Mountains in 1950, six years after the cartoon was invented.
• Lincoln Historic Site — 12 mi
  One street of adobe in the Bonito valley kept much as it was in the 1870s, where the Lincoln County War was fought over who would supply Fort Stanton and the Mescalero agency.
• Three Rivers Petroglyph Site — 28 mi
  More than 21,000 petroglyphs on a basalt ridge above the Tularosa Basin, one of the few places in the Southwest set aside for its rock art alone, walked on a rough half-mile trail.

More markers nearby

• Capitán — 0.4 mi
• Capitán — 0.7 mi
• Capitán — 1.6 mi
• Fort Stanton — 4.4 mi