Las Vegas, New Mexico

is the ORIGINAL Las Vegas as the Visitor's Bureau is only too willing to tell you. Since neither of us had ever been to this one, we decided to make it a day trip - heck, we are only 60 miles away.

Leaving Santa Rosa, you went west on I 40 for about 15 miles and then headed north on 84 which follows the path of the first Route 66. Along the way, there is evidence of "ghost towns" but we didn't stop this time.

My online research about Las Vegas told me that in the 1900 census, Las Vegas was the largest city in New Mexico and that it had some very unique architecture. The railroad came in the late 1880's and people with different ideas and materials made there way to town. The first and most famous hotel is The Plaza. In the days of silent films, it was used as a set and one of the early silent film producers, Romaine Fielding, called the Plaza home for many years. A fellow we met in one of the shops told us that when the renovations were being done, they found 7 tunnels between this hoteland this nondescript bar across the town square.

Seems that in the old days, Las Vegas was a hang out place for outlaws and gangs regularly passed through. Billy the Kid liked the area and spent time there. I suppose the escape route was rather handy on more than one occasion.

He also told us that when he was growing up, this building manufactured parachutes for the military.

It is fun to bump into locals willing to share stories and facts with us tourists.

In addition to the unique architecture, Las Vegas has an interesting lay out. One side of town was developed by people coming from Mexico so it has a town square and buildings all around the plaza. The streets go out like spokes on a wheel from the town center. Then there is a bridge and the other side of town is laid out in a grid pattern as it was settled by Europeans coming from "back East".

The Nuestro Senora de los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows) Church was built in 1869 of red sandstone that was quarried 25 miles away and transported by wagon. Each block was hand made and placed in a random pattern.

The altar ceiling looked like stars and the altar itself was decorated with Easter Baskets tied with ribbons.

The church houses one of the most beautiful statues of Jesus, Mary and Joseph that I have ever seen. The facial features and detailing of this life size statue is magnificent. I regret not being able to find any history for the piece.

We stopped for a midday snack at the corner drugstore on the square and discovered that a pharmacy has existed on this corner since 1879. The building in which we "shared a shake" was built in 1919.

Many of the display cases, the floor and woodwork was original. Coke memorabilia and cigar store Indians created an interesting setting.

That is the doorway to the pharmacy that the Indians are guarding.

We drove around the town abit and found what the guidebook called "shotgun" houses; they didn't look like much - maybe military barracks - and were so named because they went up quickly to accommodate all the newcomers the railroad brought to town.

Then we headed a few miles northwest to "Montezuma Castle" and the hot springs that the fellow in town had told us about. Years ago, we visited Montezuma Castle in Arizona, by Cottonwood, and it was a cliff dwelling so we really did not have the foggiest notion of what this one might be. It turned out to be The United World College of the American West in the tiny town of Montezuma. According to their website, they have only 200 boarding students hand selected from all over the world and the purpose is to promote peaceful resolution to differences. The students are between 16 and 19 and after attending this school most go on to an Ivy League School. The building was originally built as a spa, was a Jewish Synagogue and a Jesuit training school and set vacant for many years before this college was established in 1982 by philanthropist Armand Hammer. Very interesting place I never even knew existed.

A young couple was enjoying the benefits of the hot springs, so we didn't stick around very long but I did put my foot in and discover this pool was very hot!

I wonder how many young International Students from The World College have hung their clothing on this wooden fence in the last 30 years...

It was still early so we decided to drive up into the mountains. Spring streams were flowing, but not with much intensity; it has been a dry few years in this area.

I love the "dolphin" cloud over the mountains.


Before we left Las Vegas we spotted an unusual church and stopped to check out one of the original Carnegie Libraries that still serve as a library.Las Vegas, New Mexico is a town in which I could live; it is a good blend of the old and new. Only problem is, it is at an elevation of 6,400 feet - that means snow and cold so we won't be looking for houses any time soon.