Incredibly helpful, informative, and friendly. Maps, free campsites, sightseeing advice & more…read more Jan is a gem. Also there is a really impressive gem / mineral collection in the office.

South of Roswell on US-285, this historical marker points out some slightly more recent history. I…read morehad no idea this happened, but now I know. On the front, the marker reads, "Camp Roswell was one of the first and largest base camps built in the United States and was located on Orchard Park Road. The camp operated from August 1942 to February 1946 and interned 4,816 German POWs at its peak. Camp construction was similar to Army training centers with the addition of watchtowers and fences. Most POWs performed agricultural labor, particularly during cotton season. Associated smaller side camps were located in Fort Sumner, Artesia and Dexter." On the reverse, "During World War II, 155 prison or war (POW) base camps and 511 branch camps were constructed in 46 states. By 1945, over 425,000 German, Italian, and Japanese POWs were held in the U.S. including more than 371,000 Germans. POWs worked in farms, mills, canneries, public works projects, and other low-risk jobs that alleviated labor shortages during the war. New Mexico's larger camps were located in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Lordburg, Roswell, and Santa Fe." [Review 17442 overall - 55 in New Mexico - 960 of 2022.]

This historical marker is on the west side of US Highway 285 north of the city of Artesia…read more The marker reads, "Artesia. Population 10,385. Elevaton 3,350. Artesia, named for the area's many artesian wells, lies on the route of the Pecos Valley cattle trails used by Charles Goodnight, Oliver Loving, and John S. Chisum. The town, established in 1903, is located what was once part of Chisum's vast cattle empire." Unfortunately, the aquifer became significantly depleted in the 1920s. Artesia is home to the former Abo Elementary School, identified by One Nation Underground as the first and most likely only public school which is entirely underground and equipped to function as a fallout shelter. The school, completed in 1962, had a concrete slab roof which served as the school's playground. It contained a large storage facility with room for supplies for 2000 people in the event of nuclear warfare. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The Artesia Restaurant and Hotel is prominently featured as a location in the film The Man Who Fell to Earth starring David Bowie. Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell identifies Artesia as his hometown. [Review 17441 overall - 54 in New Mexico - 959 of 2022.]

A fun little pitstop right when you get into town! There is ample road space to pull over safely to…read moretake a fun photo with the sign. Be wary, as it's next to a farm and might carry a heavy smell once you exit your car. Happy travels :)

We HAD to stop at this sign and I'm glad we can share our experience and tips with other Yelpers…read moreafter our trip. This was a must visit on our trip to Roswell and though the fast was stop I'm so glad we did it! VERY important, there are two distinct stops at the North and Southside of town. Both have the famous "Roswell" sign and our favorite part was right up on top, if you look closely at the cow graphic the one closest to the UFO is being sucked up by the flying saucer. North Side Sign: This one had a historical placard you can read and it's own designated small parking lot. This was the first one we went to and though its covered in graffiti and stickers we still found it charming. The South Side Sign: No placard and you have to go further down the freeway going south toward Carlsbad to see the small diorama with a crashed UFO and Rockwell style classic small town folk withe their broken down car. These are covered in grafitti and some of the

L.J. Reischman Memorial Park is a small municipal park in downtown Roswell, New Mexico, named after…read moreLester James (L.J.) Reischman, father of prominent local businessman Owen Armagene "Gene" Reischman. Located near Main Street, it's a public space listed among the city's facilities, offering a quiet area for community activities.

The Roswell Rocket is on display in Pioneer Park located on Main Street in Rowell. It's a great…read morephoto op spot and has a sitting area and grassy park where you can stop and take a break. Nothing fancy, just a cool item to look at.

Located in Pioneer Park in downtown Roswell NM. The "Cattle King of the Pecos" sculpture is a…read morelarger-than-life bronze statue of John Simpson Chisum (1824-1884), created by artist Robert T. Summers and installed in 1999 at Pioneer Plaza. Chisum, a prominent cattleman, was known as the largest cattle producer in the U.S. during the mid-1870s, managing up to 80,000 longhorn steers. The statue commemorates his role in establishing the cattle industry in the Pecos Valley, where he brought his first herd in 1867 via the Goodnight-Loving Trail and set up his South Spring Ranch near Roswell. The sculpture captures his legacy as a key figure in the early West and Roswell's development.