National Historic Landmark

Rabbit Ears

Clayton, Union County, New Mexico
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000499

About this property

Rabbit Ear Mountain is a mountain with two peaks in northeastern New Mexico, United States, 8 miles (13 kilometers) north of the city of Clayton. The mountain was a distinctive landmark along the Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail, a major route for westbound settlers in the 19th century. The mountain was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963. The name is that of a Native American chief who was killed here in a battle with the Spanish in 1717. In 1966, the National Park Service created a historic district called "Rabbit Ears" that includes the mountain. Also, the mountain was designated a National Historic Landmark under that name. According to the GNIS database, however, the mountain's official name is Rabbit Ear Mountain. Rabbit Ear Mountain is really two summits that at one time formed a single volcano, but erosion over time has greatly changed the peak's landscape. The higher of the two peaks has an elevation of 6,062 feet (1,848 meters) and the lower, which is unnamed, has an elevation of 5,861 feet (1,786 meters). They rise several hundred feet above the surrounding Great Plains.

Location

Clayton, Union County, New Mexico
36.59020, -103.22119

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Rabbit Ears

This page lists Rabbit Ears. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Luna Theater
Industrial
9.7 mi
Eklund Hotel
Industrial
9.8 mi
Gate, Fence and Hollow Tree Shelter Designed by Dionicio Rodriguez
Industrial
9.8 mi
Clayton Public Library
Civil War
9.9 mi
Union County Courthouse
Civil War
9.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Rabbit Ears listed on the National Register?

Rabbit Ears was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Rabbit Ears?

Rabbit Ears is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Rabbit Ears a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Rabbit Ears has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Rabbit Ears?

The period of significance for Rabbit Ears is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Rabbit Ears?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Rabbit Ears will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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