Table of Contents 6-8
Historical Sketch of Las Vegas, NM, in the year 1880 and a Return to Las Vegas in the Year 1915 by Joseph A. Lordi
16-17
Lights! ... Camera! ... Action! ... Las Vegas! Meditations on Las Vegas Film History by Elmo Baca
20-21
Phantom of a Rail Town: The Chinese immigrant Experience in Las Vegas, NM, c. 1882 by Shane Flores & Bob Mishler
22-23
Pecos: San Miguel County’s Gem!
26-27
Faith, Hope & Charity
32-40
Calendar and Events
42-47
Recreation & Outdoors
48-49
A Double Dose of Fred Harvey in Las Vegas
50 52-53 55
The Pecos Valley: nature, history and the arts abound!
by Marcus C. Gottschalk
Ongoing & monthly events in Las Vegas and San Miguel County
Activities abound in Las Vegas & San Miguel County!
By Rosa Walston Latimer
National Wildlife Refuge Las Vegas • Maxwell • Mora - The northern New Mexico National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Las Vegas, The Early Years by Elmo Baca
Fort Union An important part of Northeast New Mexico history
56-57
Mora County
64-65
Corridor Map: Showing the Historic Districts of Plaza & Bridge Street; New Mexico Highlands University;
Our neighbor to the north at the base of Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Carnegie Park; Lincoln Park; Douglas Avenue & 6th Street; East Lincoln Avenue and Railroad Avenue
66
Lodging & Restaurants
67
City Map
In the City of Las Vegas; San Miguel and Mora Counties
Think big is better? Think again. Founded in 1835, Las Vegas claims to be “damn’ authentic.” During the heyday of the Santa Fe Trail, we were Americans’ entry to Old Mexico. In 1846, right in our Plaza, General Kearny announced New Mexico’s annexation to the United States. When New Mexico became a state in 1912, we were its biggest city, and we retain much of that history, with over 900 buildings listed on various historic registries. Now we are a small city with friendly, mostly locally owned businesses, with an emphasis on art and antiques. Browse through this Guide, and you will see there are lots of things to see and do, whether you are a history buff, movie buff, or a fisher, hunter, Andrea Gottschalk President, Las Vegas First Independent Business Alliance
4 | Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide 2017
biker or hiker. You can walk the same streets once walked by Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday. Our Bridge Street has been named “One of the Ten Best Main Streets” in America. From silent films featuring cowboy Tom Mix, through “Easy Rider,” “Red Dawn,” “True Grit,” “No Country for Old Men” and the TV series “Longmire,” Las Vegas and San Miguel County have been featured locations for Hollywood since forever, We are surrounded by state and national monuments, parks, forests, and refuges. Mark your calendar for our 4th of July Fiestas and Heritage Week in August. You are invited, through this 2017 Visitors’ Guide, to discover what new adventures you can have down our old trails.