Fort Stanton, named for Captain Henry W. Stanton, was established on May 4, 1855 as a military fort to protect settlers from Apache attacks. It operated as a military fortification until 1896, played a part in the Civil War, became the first Tuberculosis Hospital in New Mexico, served as an internment camp for German seamen during World War II, and is associated with figures such as Kit Carson, Black Jack Pershing, the Buffalo Soldiers of the 8th and 9th Cavalry, and Billy the Kid. The Bureau of Land Management and Fort Stanton oversees thousands of acres surrounding the fort.