Las Vegas, New Mexico is about a 6 hour drive south from Raton, Colorado. The town itself dates to the first part of the last century when it was born of a Mexican land grant in 1833. Petitioners were requested to create a plaza as a condition for receiving land. Prior to this the area played host to Indian hunters, Spanish explorers and travelers of the Santa Fe Trail who took advantage of its hot springs , clear rivers, location on the eastern slope of the southern extreme of the Rocky Mountains and gateway to the Great Plains.
The Plaza Hotel was built in 1882 and is considered the finest historic hotel in Northern New Mexico.
This is looking from the front.
It is used often as a background to movies as it was for the set of Longmire.
For those who are devotees of Longmire this is the entry to the Sheriff' Department.
There are several elegant buildings around the Plaza.
The Plaza Park has to its north the Longmire office and the Plaza Hotel.
To the south of the park is this iconic Drug Store. I really enjoy these stores.
The interior provides a wide range of goods for the client. From ice cream to medications.
Of course the Indian really makes it.
There are a number of hotels around town that were in their day very grand buildings. Below is the Castaneda Hotel which was considered the jewel of the chain of Fred Harvey Hotels which lined the railroad across the southwest. Whilst it looks rather sad today there is a move to return it to its former glory.
In its day it provided hotel and restaurant services to the rail traveler. Harvey is credited with creating the first restaurant chain in the USA. He provided high quality food to train passengers when the train stopped to refuel approximately every 100 miles. Hotels came later.
Young ladies were employed to provide meals to the weary traveler. These girls were known as the Harvey Girls who wore distinctive black and white uniforms. With their ever-present smile , they worked 12 hour shifts. For some, this is were they met their future husbands.
Las Vegas was fun to visit.
Cheers , Beverley and Ross
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