In what is now part of the same National Historic Park they commemorate and preserve the story and location of the Gettysburg of the West, The Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass.  A force of determined Texans moved up the Pecos River in attempt to take claim of New Mexico and parts of California in an effort to expand the confederacy and control western ports.  They were met and ultimately turned back by an equally determined union force.  This defeat is considered the end of confederate attempts to expand in the west much like the Gettysburg defeat ended attempts to strike North in the east.