Rising up from the desert, hardy peoples have called New Mexico home for centuries. The Land of Enchantment has a history and style all its own.
History
Native American cultures moved into the area now called New Mexico thousands of years before Europeans ever showed up. Cliff dwellings and massive pueblos show a level of sophistication rare north of pre-Columbian Mexico. Today the ruins at Chaco are a testament to the prowess of the state’s early peoples.
The mysterious and well preserved walls of Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon.
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, a Spanish explorer searching for gold, stumbled into the region in 1540-1542. By 1610, the city of Santa Fe had been founded, becoming the capital of New Mexico and a hub for Spanish settlement in the northern reaches of its territory. The area’s Natives and Spanish settlers assimilated to a point not often seen in America’s past, and New Mexico today has one of the strongest and most vibrant Latino and American Indian populations in the United States.
Santa Fe, New Mexico. This is truly an unique city. Founded by the Spanish in the 17th century, it is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The city has kept its adobe appearance ever since.
The U.S. acquired most of New Mexico in 1848, as a result of the Mexican-American War, and bought the southern third of the state in 1853 by way of the Gadsden Purchase. The state quickly seceded along with the Confederacy during the American Civil War, producing one of the conflict’s more peripheral battlegrounds. Although the 1870s and 1880s brought mass bloodshed between settlers and natives, the capture of the Apache chief Geronimo in 1886 largely ended conflict in the region. She became a state in 1912, one of the last from the Lower 48 to enter the Union.
During the 20th century, New Mexico played a vital part in the saga of the Nuclear Age. The first atomic bomb was detonated near Alamogordo, introducing a new era of weaponry and the science of death. Since then, the Land of Enchantment has been a leader in energy research, with experiments conducted at Los Alamos for over half a century. Additionally, the state’s mineral output is impressive; with deposits of petroleum, gold, silver, zinc and basically every other shiny metal you could imagine, New Mexico’s earth is a powerhouse.
Today’s New Mexico pays tribute to its past while looking forward to the future. Tourism plays an important part in the state’s economy, making it a great destination for curious history buffs.
Must-See Attractions
Tips
Sometimes long distances between amenities can make driving/hiking in sparsely-populated New Mexico difficult; make sure to plan ahead on water, fuel and food before setting out for an adventure.
Reservations have cheaper gas than everywhere else. Stop when you can.
Enjoy the local culture and food.
Be careful driving through Albuquerque. The other drivers are insane.
