White Sands National Park

1. Landmark
2. Monument
3. National Park
4. Local Business

<p>The <b>White Sands National Monument</b> is a <a href="/pages/w/143663438982575">U.S. National Monument</a> located about southwest of <a href="/pages/w/111684678847709">Alamogordo</a> in western <a href="/pages/w/129941740380464">Otero County</a> and northeastern <a href="/pages/w/137217916299225">Doña Ana County</a> in the <a href="/pages/w/109424399076333">state</a> of <a href="/pages/w/108301835856691">New Mexico</a>, at an elevation of. The area is in the mountain-ringed <a href="/pages/w/116242478423053">Tularosa Basin</a> and comprises the southern part of a field of white <a href="/pages/w/114576068557948">sand dune</a>s composed of <a href="/pages/w/107610589268710">gypsum</a> crystals. It is the largest gypsum dune field in the world.</p><h2>History</h2><p>The first exploration was led by a party of <a href="/pages/w/114505061899191">US Army</a> officers in 1849.</p><p>The <a href="/pages/w/108705695827946">Mescalero Apache</a> were already living in the area at the time. Hispanic families started farming communities in the area at <a href="/pages/w/114964785186842">Tularosa</a> in 1861 and at <a href="/pages/w/111764355508790">La Luz</a> in 1863.</p><h3>Preparation for a National Park</h3><p>Creating a national park in the white sands formation goes back as far as 1898. A group in <a href="/pages/w/106279072744259">El Paso</a> had proposed the creation of "Mescalero" National Park. Their idea was for a game hunting preserve, which conflicted with the idea of preservation held by the <a href="/pages/w/102160689825944">Department of the Interior</a>, and their plan was not successful. In 1921-1922 <a href="/pages/w/109750455714661">Albert Bacon Fall</a>, <a href="/pages/w/108149252546264">United States Secretary of the Interior</a> and owner of a large ranch in <a href="/pages/w/102499083161338">Three Rivers</a> near White Sands, promoted the idea of a national park there, an "All-Year National Park" that, unlike more northerly parks, would be usable year-round. This idea ran into a number of difficulties and did not succeed. Tom Charles, an Alamogordo insurance agent and civic booster, was influenced by Fall's ideas. By emphasizing the economic benefits, Charles was able to mobilize enough support to have the park created.</p>

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Summary

White Sands National Park is El Paso based place and this enity listed in Monument category.