In America today, Fourth of July to most people means picnics and fireworks. The dramatic history that led to our nation's Independence Day is no longer celebrated with the same fervor as once was the case.

New Mexico has a long record of July Fourth observances that took place in its cities, towns, small farming and ranching communities, and military forts. For many New Mexicans, the occasion was the high point of their summer.

It was longed believed that the first authentic marking of the Fourth within our state boundaries occurred in 1831, two dozen miles north of Clayton on the old Santa Fe Trail.

On the evening of July 3, a merchant caravan from the States camped on the banks of the North Canadian River. With the men were a pair of small cannons that served as protection against Indians.

Although they were no longer in the United States, but within the limits of Mexico, the travelers elected to recognize the ever-so-meaningful Fourth.

"At dawn," one of them wrote, "our camp gave lively demonstrations of the joy in the heart of every American on the anniversary of this triumphant day."

And he further noted, "The roar of our artillery and rifles resounded from every hill, while the drum and shrill fife were well calculated to stir the souls of men."

The scene must have been truly memorable. But as it turns out, the small, noisy display on the North Canadian was, after all, not the first commemoration of the Fourth in New Mexico, as I recently discovered.

That honor evidently belongs to Taos. Several Missouri newspapers reported upon the travels of a young physician, Dr. Willard from the St. Louis area, who had gone to New Mexico in search of adventure.

He had departed on May 6, 1825, with a caravan of 33 persons and arrived at Taos in time to actively participate in jubilant Independence Day festivities.

According to the account, American traders in the Taos vicinity "made up a showy concourse to celebrate the great festival of the natal day of their liberties."

It was said, oddly, that Dr. Willard prepared a flag with the American eagle. One wonders why he chose the eagle rather than the stars and stripes.

In any event, the narrative suggests that "the revelers went through their ceremony with gun firings, much to the credit of their own patriotism, and to the edification and delight of the native people of Taos."

Since the Santa Fe Trail had opened only four years earlier, it is quite possible that the Taoseños had not viewed any sort of July Fourth spectacle until now.

As the Americans formed a column and paraded through the several quarters of the town, they were met along the route with shouts of "Viva la República." Or so the Missouri Press indicated.

Given no more information than this, it is hard to tell whether the residents of Taos were cheering the American republic, or their republic of Mexico.

From past State Historian Robert Torres, I learned that native New Mexicans did not become active and enthusiastic participants in July Fourth endeavors until well into the territorial period.

He cites the 1857 program in the capital when patriotic speeches in Spanish are initially mentioned, including a reading of the Declaration of Independence in that language.

The granddaddy of all Fourths, for every New Mexican, occurred in 1876, the centennial year of the nation's founding. A joint Resolution of Congress had called upon all Americans to assemble in their counties and towns to mark the joyous anniversary.

In Santa Fe, public buildings were decorated with red, white and blue streamers. A centennial poem and a hymn were commissioned, marching bands tuned up to present programs of appropriate airs, banquet toasts were scripted and assorted dignitaries worked nights preparing flowery speeches.

In the last category was the lengthy Centennial Historical Oration, a super-formal address outlining the entire history of New Mexico and serving as the centerpiece of the day's events.

Tapped for delivering that honor was former governor William F. M. Arny, renowned for his powerful oratory before the territorial Legislature. His showy words and elaborate figures of speech that ran to more than 32 printed pages was described by The New Mexican as "an exhaustive, patriotic and historical oration."

The day ended with a stunning fireworks display on the Plaza, backed up by music of the Fort Marcy military band. The packed crowd appeared bedazzled, showing its greatest approval for a pyrotechnic portrait, all ablaze, of George Washington.

"It was a brilliant scene," reported the Press, "and a fitting closing to a grandly spent day."

Historian Marc Simmons is author of numerous books on New Mexico and the Southwest. His column appears Saturdays.