in Observance of Juneteenth Federal Holiday

LAS CRUCES, N.M. The Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in observance of the Juneteenth Federal Holiday. The office will resume regular business hours on Thursday, June 20.

Juneteenth is a day that commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. Historically and culturally, celebrated on June 19th, it marks the day in 1865 that Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas, and informed slaves there that the Civil War ended, and slavery was abolished. In 2021, President Biden signed a law establishing June 19th as a federal holiday in acknowledgment of Juneteenth National Independence Day.

In observance of this day, the LCDO will waive day use day use fees at all recreation sites within the district: Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, Aguirre Spring Recreation Area and Campground and Dripping Springs Natural Area. Site standard amenity and individual day-use fees at these recreation sites and areas will be waived. Other fees, such as overnight camping and group day use will remain in effect.