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Las Cruces meaning the crosses is located in Southwestern New Mexico and was founded in l848. It is the county seat of Dona Ana County. It is located at a crossing of Interstate 25 and Interstat 10 and is the second largest city in New Mexico. At this crossroads the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe Railway came through by U.S. 70. There are two legends regarding the name of Las Cruces as means the crosses. One legend is that there were crosses on graves of Spanish settlers that were massacred by ambush coming from Taos in l830. Another legend is that the crosses were there since an Indian massacre in l848. Pueblo Indians occupied the Mesilla Valley even in 200 B.C.
The population of today numbers around 75,000. This is a very beautiful area and is less than fifty miles from El Paso, Texas. I would suggest your planning to spend a few days exploring and enjoying Las Cruces. There are numerous delightful places to dine And enjoy the local cuisine or whatever type of menus you prefer. You will find many beautiful motels and hotels and campgrounds to make your stay in this area enchanting.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5 that is Mexico's Independence Day. It is held in the Old Mesilla Plaza. A wonderful time can happen for the entire family with parades, bands and so many activities. On Memorial Day weekend the Mesilla Wine Festival is held. In late November at Young Park there is a Renaissance craftfaire with many arts and crafts for sale and for exhibition by local artists. Entertainment is also provided for your pleasure during this craftfaire. The third Saturday in June every year there is a Juneteeth Celebration with many activities. Las Cruces is known throughout the world because of the minerals, gems and rocks and in November, a week before Thanksgiving there is a Gem and Mineral Show. If you plan to be in Las Cruces in December you will certainly enjoy the Las Cruces Symphony Guild Walking tour of the historic area consisting of buildings, churches and homes. The Fiesta of our Lady of Guadalupe takes place at Tortugas, on U.S. 80/85 and the Indians will Matachine dance and have a procession by torchlight on the Tortuga Mountain.
In 1535, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca after surviving a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico came to this area. It is said that he was in search of Spanish settlements and came to the Mesilla Valley and was known to be the very first European to be in the area. In l840, the Coronado expedition came through the Mesilla Valley looking for the Seven Cities of Cibola.
The area is very fertile and many crops are grown in the surrounding irrigated farmlands. These crops include; corn, sugar beets, cantaloupes, asparagus, cotton, alfalfa, onions, chili, and many types of fruits. Due to the fertile irrigated area there is much diary farming.
The historic church of San Albino was erected in Mesilla in l850. At the end of the Mexican War Mesilla was a part of Chihuahua, Mexico. After the area was settled, Mexico gave the land to the United States under the Mesilla (little tableland) Colony Grant. When the treaty was signed the United States gave Mexico $10,000,000. Mexico also gave another strip of land in the Gadsden Purchase that would include the entire Mesilla Valley. The flag was raised on July 4, l854 to confirm this treaty. At the junction of N.M. 28 there is a very old plaza and the church of San Albino. You will see adobe houses and be thoughtful of when this land was first settled.
The Overland Mail route that ran between Missouri and California came through this area and a race was won as to which route would be quicker to Mesilla and the route to the West won. The Rio Grande changed its course in l865 as Mesilla was on the west side. You can visit an old adobe house where Billy the Kid was on trial for murder in one corner of the plaza. He was sentenced to hang but managed to escape. The Sheriff Pat Garrett tracked him down and shot him and then was shot and killed himself and is buried in a local Las Cruces cemetery. There is a museum in the town with many relics of Billy the Kid.
There is a junction of US 70 in Mesilla with a dirt road that will lead you to the Tortugas Indian Village, having a stone church in Gothic style with a very small plaza. The Indians living in this area still practice the tribal beliefs and are said to descend from Indians from Isleta del Sur near El Paso. The settlement still is inhabited by these Indians.
New Mexico State University is located in the city of Las Cruces and features Kent Hall with archaeological exhibits. The Water Resources Institute of New Mexico, the Solar Energy Institute and the Clyde Tombaugh Observatory are located there.
On U.S. 70 east of town you can find the Aguirre Spring Recreation area and can enjoy horseback riding, hiking and picnicking. Burn Lake is located at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Amador Avenue and you can also enjoy picnicking, swimming and fishing there. On Wednesday and Sunday the Downtown Mall Farmer's Market is open with many baked goods and produces from the Mesilla Valley available. Crafts from the locals can be found at this market for your buying pleasure. There are swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts and parks in the area. Sunland Park is a racetrack and you can indulge in betting on your favorites. Las Cruces is just a beautiful, fertile, historic and just enjoyable area for anyone to visit. After you visit once, you will want to return and venture out to enjoy the entire area.
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