Last updated on .
Española is a small city in northern New Mexico. It’s located a short drive from both Los Alamos and Santa Fe. We didn’t spend too much time in town, using it more as a base to visit Los Alamos and a few other nearby places.
History
Española has a long history, founded in 1598 as San Juan de los Caballeros. It was the first capital of Nuevo México, under the Kingdom of the Spanish Empire. Some consider it the first capital city in the United States.
The name was changed to Española in 1880, when the railroad was built through town. It was officially incorporated in 1925.
Plaza de Española
The first place we visited was Plaza de Española, which is a cultural area in the heart of the city. Unfortunately, all of the attractions were closed because we visited too early in the day.
The plaza contains a replica of a Spanish mission church built in 1598. It includes traditional church decorations from the 16th through 20th centuries as well as a gift shop and visitor center.
A long walkway from the church leads to a veteran’s memorial depicting the names of over 2,100 Española Valley veterans. The memorial includes a walk of honor, reflecting pool, fountains, and a garden.
On the other side of the memorial is the Bond House Museum, which is a historic home built in 1887 by Canadian entrepreneur Frank Bond (1863-1945). It highlights the transition of Española from frontier outpost to commercial center and also displays local works of art. The museum is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 4pm.
Chimayó Trading Post
After the plaza we stopped by the Chimayó Trading Post, which sells Native American art and jewelry. The original trading post was built in Chimayó in 1917 and moved to its current location in Española in 1924.
The Chimayó Trading Post has been operated by the Trujillo family since it first opened. It too was closed when we drove by.
Rodeway Inn
I can’t tell you where to stay in Española, but I can tell you where NOT to stay. The Rodeway Inn was perhaps the worst hotel experience I’ve ever had in my life.
