Boston Hill is actually comprised of three hills located at the southern edge of Silver City. The hill is notable for mining activity, which first took place in the 1870s. Though it was prospected for silver ore, it was manganiferous iron ore that was actually mined at this site. The hills came to be called Boston Hill around 1880 after the Massachusetts and New Mexico Mining Company (also known as the “Boston Company” purchased the Legal Tender claim. A narrow gauge railroad was built on the hill in 1906 to ship the ore, but persistent problems caused it to be closed around 1908 and the track removed in 1913.
The Town of Silver City purchased a majority of the claims associated with Boston Hill in 1999 as the Town’s first open space acquisition thanks to a bequeath from Lennie Merle Forward. In 2001, the Town obtained a grant to develop a non-motorized trail system that offers many recreational opportunities.
Silver City, NM
