Santa Fe – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s (EMNRD) State Parks Division proudly announces that Hyde Memorial State Park has been added to the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its long history and value to New Mexico. One of New Mexico’s first state parks, Hyde Memorial is a 355-acre park in the Santa Fe National Forest and includes multiple historic structures.
Hyde Memorial State Park was named after Benjamin Talbot Hyde who was the original owner of the land and an advocate of nature and education. The ski lodge, visitor center, and picnic and camping shelters were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1938 – 1942. The lodge, built in 1938, was one of the first recreational buildings in the State Parks system. The CCC also constructed the ski runs, tow rope building, roads, and even a pool and ice-skating rink that once stood on the grounds. The visitor center was built in 1957 and was built in the same style as the lodge. Most of the historic structures are located in the valley along the loop road.
“The New Mexico State Park system houses natural and historic resources that are representative of our diverse landscapes and long history,” said EMNRD Cabinet Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst. “Acknowledgement through the National Register of Historic Places honors this unique historic park and will increase interest in the area, further boosting the outdoor recreation economy.”
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources. The database is available here: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/