Constructed 1889.
In the 1840s there was a war raging between Mexico and the United States. The war ended in 1848 but not the dispute over a strip of land called the Mesilla Strip. During that period, a small one room ranchero was built on the site of the Old Custom House. It was sold to R.S. Field in 1885, and in 1888 he sold the property to his father Seaman Field. When Field was named the Collector of Customs, his home became the custom office until the U.S. Customs Service moved to its present location South of Columbus, NM. The Custom House was built in 1889 and is believed to be the first custom house in the area. The building was also a private home to Judge Seaman Field. The room, which served as the custom house, still has old records from the era. The building is located across the street from the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum. The Old Custom House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.
301 S. Silver Street Deming, NM 88030 | 575-546-2382
photo by Eduardo Martinez.
