1866 after the civil war the fort was needed in New Mexico to protect the miners, ranchers, and emigrant and business trails. The fort was named after General George D. Bayard.
Fort Bayard was home to the 9th Calvary Buffalo Soldiers and then 2nd Lt. John J. Pershing. The fort played a role in the search for Geronimo.

A national cemetery is located at Fort Bayard.
The fort suffered its first Apache attack when it was only one year old.

After General Geronimo’s surrender in 1886, the post’s importance declined, and the post was deactivated as a troop garrison in 1900.

Fort Bayard Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 7, 2002.
The hospital continues to be utilized by the State of New Mexico but many of the old buildings are abandoned.