Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Las Vegas, NM
Year Listed: 2001
Don't confuse this culturally and historically rich town with the "other" Las Vegas. Located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the northeastern part of the state, Las Vegas, New Mexico, (population 16,500) has a 160-year-old history and a vibrant cultural heritage influenced by Northern New Mexican Spanish, Native American, Northern European, and Jewish communities. Established by a land grant in 1835, Las Vegas became a major trading center on the Santa Fe Trail and an outpost for legendary Wild West outlaws, including Billy the Kid. It later became a major railroad depot when the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad came within a mile of the city limits and inspired rapid building and growth. Through these two transportation hubs came many travelers from diverse geographic regions and cultures. Even the Rough Riders chose Las Vegas for their first reunion at Lincoln Park. The historic architecture of Las Vegas reflects the influence of its disparate early settlers, with buildings from Spanish adobes to Victorian mansions. An astounding 918 of these buildings are in the National Register of Historic Places: while some have been adapted into quaint hotels, bed and breakfast inns, antique stores, artists' galleries, and restaurants, most remain as homes and businesses, often still owned and used by the families that first built them. The town's annual Places With a Past Historic Buildings Tour, held in August, highlights at least six structures that best represent local preservation efforts. Centrally located near Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Las Vegas is in a region steeped in early American history. A short drive will take visitors to Fort Union National Monument, established in 1851 to protect wagon trains and now a museum about life in the 1880s. Las Vegas is also just half an hour from Pecos National Historical Park, which showcases the history of the Pueblo Indians who inhabited the area before the arrival of Spanish settlers in the early 1500s. Special events in Las Vegas include a Fourth of July Fiestas, a combined celebration of U.S. independence and Hispanic culture; an arts and crafts fair; and a symposium on the Santa Fe Trail, which is still visible in places. Outdoor enthusiasts will revel in the nearby national forest lands for hiking, fishing, windsurfing, and camping, and the bird-watching and photography opportunities of the National Wildlife Refuge of Las Vegas.
