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After quickly running through the ruins at Fort Union National Monument, we drove to Las Vegas for the night. No, not THAT Las Vegas! The OTHER one, in New Mexico.
The next morning, we took some time to check out the city. We didn’t have a lot of time, but enjoyed what we saw.
History
Las Vegas was founded in 1835 by settlers who received a land grant from the Mexican government. It became an important stop on the Santa Fe Trail, and played an important role in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Stephen W. Kearny (1794-1848) delivered an address claiming New Mexico for the United States in the town plaza in 1846.
After the railroad arrived on July 4, 1879, it brought several characters associated with the Wild West. This gave the town the reputation of being lawless.
In more recent times, Las Vegas has become a popular setting for films and television shows. Films such as Easy Rider (1969), Wyatt Earp (1994), and No Country for Old Men (2007), were shot there.
Regal Motel
We stayed the night at the Regal Motel, which is a short drive from downtown Las Vegas. It was low-priced and comfortable, but not exactly clean. Interestingly, it was one of the many film locations in Las Vegas featured in No Country for Old Men.
Plaza Park
We started exploring Las Vegas in leafy Plaza Park. It’s a nice, open plaza that was the center of the historic part of town. The plaza is surrounded by some beautiful historic buildings.
The plaza features plenty of sculptures and memorial plaques. One plaque commemorates the Santa Fe Trail, and was placed in the park in 1910 by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Territory of New Mexico.
Plaza Hotel
One of the most important buildings on the plaza is the Plaza Hotel, which opened in 1882. It was built at a cost of US$25,000 and has an Italianate façade. The guest rooms had high ceilings and the entire hotel was ornately decorated.
The first reunion of Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders took place there in 1899. He stayed in the Plaza Hotel twice and also announced his presidential candidacy in Las Vegas.
Bridge Street
From the plaza, we walked down Bridge Street. It’s lined on both sides with colorful historic buildings. The buildings host shops, restaurants, offices, and art galleries. Bridge Street crosses Gallinas Creek and turns into National Avenue.
Carnegie Library
A few blocks further down National Avenue we came to the Carnegie Library. Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated 2,509 libraries worldwide between 1883 and 1919. This one was built thanks to a public grant of US$10,000 on March 14, 1902. It opened in 1904 and was modeled after the Monticello. It’s the only remaining Carnegie Library in New Mexico still serving its original purpose.
City of Las Vegas Museum
Next, we paid a visit to the City of Las Vegas Museum. This museum contains several original artifacts related to the city’s history. Admission is free but donations are welcome (as of February 2024). It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.
The displays include excellent information and interpretive panels, and cover a wide range of topics including health care, technology, education, religion, war, and the arts. Most of the collection is from the mid 19th to mid 20th century, but some artifacts date back to the 14th century.
One of the most important sections of the museum contains the Rough Rider Memorial Collection. It displays photos and artifacts related to Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.
Las Vegas Depot
Finally, before leaving Las Vegas, we passed by the old Las Vegas Depot. It was built in 1899 in the Spanish Mission style. The building was renovated in 2000 and still serves as an Amtrak station as well as the city’s visitor center.
