Thank you for your interest in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a city with rich culture and heritage, exciting things to see and do, and of course great weather - 325 days of sunshine!
The Las Cruces CVB Media Department is here to assist you with whatever you will need to start, finish or fine tune your story about Las Cruces.
We can help you illustrate your story with images from our extensive photo library. We are also glad to help with story ideas, local contacts and the logistics of your visit.
This press kit is updated on a regular basis, but you are encouraged to visit our website, www.ExploreLasCruces.com, for the most up-to-date information on the area.
We look forward to helping you find the perfect angle for story.
Las Cruces CVB Media Department Chris Faivre, Director of Marketing & Communications 575-541-2150, [email protected] explorelascruces.com
Las Cruces PR Contact Brooke Traister, Tucker & Associates 214-252-0900, [email protected]
Planning a Visit to Las Cruces? Contact the Media Department for assistance with trip planning, accommodations and meals.
Need Images? We have a variety of high-resolution images available for journalists and travel writers. Please contact the Media Department for access. Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Annual Events ...... 4 Bataan Memorial ...... 7 Galleries & Museums ...... 9 Golf ...... 12 Hub & Spoke ...... 14 Las Cruces History ...... 15 Mesilla, New Mexico ...... 17 Outdoors ...... 19 Culinary ...... 21 Family Travel ...... 23 annual events
Las Cruces Annual Events
Each January, Las Cruces kicks of the New Year with the Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally, where more than 40 unique and colorful bal- loons fill the sky over the Mesilla Valley. The balloon rally is just one of many events held every year in and around Las Cruces.
February is For the Love of Art Month. Art lovers have the opportunity to partake in special art events throughout the month including a city-wide tour of different galleries and artists’ studios.
March is the home of Cowboys Days at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. Nothing Says the Old West like the cowboy, and the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum honors the Western legend with a weekend festival complete with roping and riding demonstrations, “cowboy food,” dancing and cowboy poetry.
In April, one of the biggest book festivals in the region, the Border Book Festival, bridges borders between ethnicity, generations, cultures, genders and economic class. Parades, workshops, special readings and signings make this festival a true celebration of literature. April is also the month for jazz and wine. La Viña Winery hosts its annual Blues and Jazz Thing and offers great music and, of course, wine. End the month with a weekend of live country music during the Las Cruces Country Music Festival April 24-27 in downtown Las Cruces. See up-and-coming artists as well as some of your all-time favorites during this New Mexico True celebration of country music and New Mexico heritage.
Culture and history come together in May to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates the historic Battle of Puebla, in Old Mesilla. In keeping with tradition, local residents celebrate with traditional Mexican music, food and games.
The spring season concludes with the Southern New Mexico Wine Festival, featuring many of the state’s wines and wineries.
The fall festival season begins with the Hatch Chile Festival and the New Mexico Wine Harvest Festival. Both of these festivals allow visitors the chance to experience southern New Mexico spirit.
The season continues with the Southern New Mexico State Fair and the Whole Enchilada Fiesta. Recognized by the American Bus Association as one of the top 100 events in North America, the Whole Enchilada Fiesta brings people together to enjoy music, food and rides, and to watch the making of the world’s largest flat enchilada.
Following the Whole Enchilada Fiesta is the La Viña Wine Festival held at La Viña Winery. This is the oldest wine festival in New Mexico and features food and entertainment at New Mexico’s oldest winery. The fall season wraps up with the Renaissance ArtsFaire, and the International Mariachi Conference and Spectacular Concert. Held the first weekend of November, the ArtsFaire features a juried art show, artisan booths, music, dance and live performances along with food and craft vendors, all presented in a Renaissance theme. The International Mariachi Conference and Spectacular Concert brings in internationally known mariachi performers from around the world in addition to performances by top mariachi students participating in the conference.
4 annual events
Las Cruces Annual calendar of Events
January Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally More than 40 unique and colorful balloons fill the sky over the Mesilla Valley. Brown Farm Field.
February For the Love of Art Month Activities include studio and gallery tours and openings, and exhibits at various locations around town.
March Cowboy Days A cowboy festival complete with roping and riding demonstrations, “cowboy food,” dancing and cowboy poetry. New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
April Border Book Festival This unique festival brings together authors from around the world. Live performances, food, fun and book readings and signings. Various locations.
La Viña Blues & Jazz Thing A weekend of music and wine at New Mexico’s oldest winery, La Viña Winery.
Las Cruces Country Music Festival A weekend celebration of country music with up-and-coming artists as well as some of your all-time favorites. Main Street downtown.
May Cinco de Mayo A traditional Mexican fiesta with music, food and dancing. Mesilla Plaza.
Southern New Mexico Wine Festival Sample wine from many New Mexico growers. Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
July 4th of July Celebration Las Cruces celebrates with an electric light parade, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display. Hadley Recreational Complex.
August Hatch Chile Festival Sample some of the area’s finest chile while you enjoy food, crafts, auction, live music and more. Hatch.
White Sands International Film Festival Intended to screen outstanding short and feature-length documentaries and narratives of all genres from around the world, with a special focus on New Mexican filmmakers. Cineport 10.
September Frontier Day Reenactments of early life at the fort. Fort Selden State Monument.
5 annual events
Las Cruces Annual calendar of Events
Mesilla Valley Maze Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to look for the perfect Jack-O-Lantern, then discover the many twists and turns amazingly cut into a corn field. September - October. Lyles Family Farm.
New Mexico Wine Harvest Festival Celebrate New Mexico’s wine harvest with grape stomping, wine tasting, live entertainment and lots of local flavor. Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
Diez y Seis de Septiembre Fiesta Join the village of Mesilla as they commemorate Mexican Independence Day. Folklorico dances, mariachi music, and authentic Mexican food. Mesilla Plaza.
The Whole Enchilada Fiesta A street party complete with food, dancing, a parade and the making of the world’s largest flat enchilada! Hadley Recreational Complex.
October Southern New Mexico State Fair The Southern New Mexico State Fair has something for everyone: a midway, auction, food, live stock shows and rodeo. Southern New Mexico Fairgrounds.
Mesilla Jazz Happening Free live jazz music and a wine garden. Mesilla Plaza.
November Renaissance ArtsFaire A juried art show and exhibition accompanied by live theater, dancing, music and food, all presented in a Renaissance theme. Young Park.
International Mariachi Conference Spectacular Concerts A concert featuring internationally known mariachi performers and conference participants. New Mexico State University Pan American Center.
December Christmas Carols and the Luminarias on the Mesilla Plaza On Christmas Eve, the historic village of Mesilla is aglow with thousands of luminarias, and the sound of carol- ing. Mesilla Plaza.
Winterfest Along Main Street downtown, visitors can enjoy tree lighting, hot chocolate, luminarias, carols, shopping and much more as Las Cruces kicks off its annual holiday celebration. Main Street downtown.
6 bataan memorial
Bataan Death March Memorial
Entangled in one another’s arms, three soldiers stand in eternal tribute to the 70,000 men that braved the treacherous journey more than 60 years ago. These larger-than-life bronze statues represent the oft-forgotten American and Filipino soldiers who hiked the Bataan Peninsula, the 50,000 who survived and the thousands of others who did not.
The memorial, “Heroes of Bataan,” located in Veterans Park in Las Cruces is the country’s first federally funded monument honoring American and Filipino veterans of the Bataan Death March. The monument was dedicated on April 13, 2002, marking the 60th an- niversary of the Death March and one of the most brutal chapters in American military history.
In New Mexico alone, hundreds of men from more than 300 communities fought to defend the Philippines during WWII. They were members of the 200th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft units of the New Mexico National Guard. Many surviving family members still reside in southern New Mexico.
As part of the commemoration, the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department dedicated a portion of U.S. Highway 70 from Las Cruces to Alamogordo, N.M., as the Bataan Memorial Highway. The stretch of road “honors the battling bastards of Bataan and the many sacrifices made by New Mexicans during one of the most infamous events of WWII.”
Artist Kelley S. Hestir, who was commissioned to create the monument, said, “‘Heroes of Bataan’ portrays Filipino and American prisoners of war entwined in their struggle to survive the Death March. They look back to what has passed, down to what is present and ahead to what might be. The many footprints which surround the statue are symbolic of the many soldiers who began the march and the few who finished. The impressions were made from the feet of those who survived.”
The idea to honor those who participated in the Bataan Death March originated in the late 1990s. While meeting with New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici, Las Cruces businessman J. Joe Martinez mentioned the Death March and how it was often overlooked. Domenici agreed and plans to build a memorial ensued. Martinez - whose uncles John and Joe were prisoners of the Japanese army during World War II and at one time were presumed dead - became the inspiration behind the memorial.
Two of the soldiers bear the faces of Martinez’ uncles, while the third face is that of Command Sgt. Maj. Gilbert L. Canuela, who is stationed at White Sands Missile Range in Las Cruces. Canuela, who is of Filipino heritage, also had a family member participate in the Bataan Death March.
Since the dedication of the Bataan Death March Memorial Monument in 2002, a mock march has become an annual Las Cruces event.
7 Las Cruces galleries and museums
Las Cruces’ exciting history and rich culture have always been an inspiration for local art- ists. Las Cruces and Mesilla have more than 50 art galleries and museums, with collec- tions honoring the history, heritage and land- scape of southern New Mexico.
The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum offers visitors a chance to relive New Mexico’s 3,000-year-old agricultural history. Museum exhibits feature ancient tools, artifacts, and living quarters dating back to the first farming tribes in the state. Outside, check out longhorn cattle, sheep and donkeys, or visit the dairy barn for more history about the dairy industry in New Mexico.
The Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum provides a tremendous amount of local and regional history, but if 3,000 years is not far enough back, stop by the Museum of Natural & Science. Here, visitors can encounter exciting displays on topics such as global processes, astronomy, the Chihuahuan Desert, principles of physical and en- vironmental science, and the Permian Trackways. The museum is part of a cultural complex of three buildings, along with the Las Cruces Museum of Art and the Branigan Cultural Center. Together these institutions play an important part of the redevelopment of Main Street, and the revitalization of downtown Las Cruces.
New Mexico State University has several museums and galleries showcasing everything from student art to prehistoric fossils. The University Art Gallery in Williams Hall is often considered the largest contemporary art gallery in southern New Mexico with one of the world’s largest collections of Mexican retablos. The Corbett Center Gallery specializes in the work of graduate and undergraduate students. The New Mexico State Universi- ty Museum features rotating exhibits focusing on the social and natural sciences, humanities and folk arts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. And the Zuhl Geological Collection – one of the best-kept secrets in all of Las Cruces – is a permanent and professionally curated display of petrified wood, minerals, fossils and geological artifacts at New Mexico State University. On display at the New Mexico State University Alumni and Visitors Center, the displays enable viewers to see the beauty that is discovered when petrified wood is cut and polished, which highlights the mineral content – minerals that replaced the wood fibers of buried wood gradually over millions of years. Other items include exceptional examples of minerals, crystals and fossils. These specimen are the lifetime legacy of Las Cruces residents Herb and Joan Zuhl, who have collected these items for more than 30 years and maintained a gallery in Manhattan before retiring to Las Cruces.
Other area museums include the Las Cruces Museum of Art, featuring rotating exhibits of some of the world’s most famous artists. Previous exhibitions include Ansel Adams, Salvador Dali, Rodin and, most recently, a collection of art work commissioned by NASA featuring artists like Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, Annie Leibovitz and William Wegman, among many others.
Located next to the Las Cruces Museum of Art, the Branigan Cultural Center features artwork from some of Las Cruces’ finest artists as well as historical photos and artifacts chronicling Las Cruces’ colorful past.
8 galleries & museums
Downtown Las Cruces, currently in the final phase of a revitalization process that will reopen Main Street through downtown, has also become one of the city’s largest collection of museums, galleries, and public and performing arts. In addition to the Las Cruces Museum of Art and Branigan Cultural Center (and the Museum of Nature & Science), the streets of downtown Las Cruces are home to 17 galleries and three performing arts theaters.
The historic town of Mesilla also offers visitors a chance to view traditional and contemporary art in nearly 15 galleries in and around the historic plaza, including the Mesilla Valley Fine Art Gallery, displaying Southwestern landscapes, still lifes, paintings, photography and pottery.
Las Cruces offers an extensive array of museums that display and showcase an array of sculptures, fine art, paintings, photographs and historical artifacts. Here, visitors have the chance to not only observe the talents of many gifted artisans, but also to learn about the history, culture and diversity of our people and how all these factors work to inspire their creativity.
Las Cruces Museums
Branigan Cultural Center 501 N. Main St. on the Downtown Mall 575-541-2155. www.las-cruces.org/museums Free admission The Branigan Cultural Center features in-house and traveling exhibi- tions, regional historical and permanent collections, and the work of local and regional artists.
Doña Ana County Historical Museum of Lawmen 845 N. Motel Blvd. inside the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department 575-525-1911. www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/sheriff/history Free admission Artifacts include law enforcement and historical memorabilia, a gun collection, a memorial to fallen officers and Pat Garrett’s desk.
Fort Selden State Monument 1280 Fort Selden Rd. 15 miles north of Las Cruces on either Inter- state 25, exit 19, or Highway 185 575-526-8911. www.nmmonuments.org Admission $3 Fort Selden was built in 1865 by the United States Army to protect the settlers of the Mesilla Valley and was the original home of the Buffalo Soldiers. Today, part of the fort’s adobe brick walls remain along with a visitor center featuring exhibits on frontier and military life. Living history demonstrations are occasionally offered on week- ends.
Las Cruces Museum of Art 491 N. Main St. on the Downtown Mall 575-541-2137. www.las-cruces.org/museums Free admission The Las Cruces Museum of Art hosts traveling exhibits and features the works of regionally and nationally known artists. The exhibits change several times a year and are often accompanied by lectures and demonstrations. 9 galleries & museums
Las Cruces Railroad Museum 351 N. Mesilla St. 575-647-4480. www.las-cruces.org/museums Free admission The Railroad Museum interprets the railroading history of Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley. Housed in a historic Santa Fe Depot, displays include railroading tools, railroadiana and model trains.
Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science 411 N. Main St. 575-522-3120. www.las-cruces.org/museums Free admission The museum features live animals and plants of the Chihuahuan Desert, along with hands-on science and natural history exhibits for children. Visiting shows run the gamut from dinosaurs to the solar system.
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum 4100 Dripping Springs Rd. 1.5 miles east of Telshor Blvd. on University Ave. 575-522-4100. www.frhm.org Admission $1-5 This interactive, 47-acre museum is packed with real stories about real people, bringing New Mexico’s 3,000-year history of farming and ranching to life. Visitors can watch a cow being milked, stroll corrals filled with livestock, enjoy gardens or watch hands-on exhibits such as blacksmithing, quilting, water dosing and more. Living history demonstrations are occasionally offered on weekends.
New Mexico State University Arthropod Museum Skeen Hall, room 168, corner of Espina Dr. and College Dr. on the campus of NMSU 575-646-7082. http://arthropods.nmsu.edu Free admission. Appointments not needed, but call ahead. A collection of approximately 140,000 arthropod specimens from the American Southwest and northern Mexico, with a special emphasis on arthropods from the state of New Mexico.
New Mexico State University Museum - Kent Hall 1280 E. University Ave. Corner of University Ave. and Solano Dr. 575-646-5161. www.nmsu.edu/museum Free admission The museum collections are primarily anthropological with secondary collections in history and the natural sciences. The collections document the cultural diversity of the border in the greater southwestern United States and northern Mexico, focusing on the traditions of ongoing historic and prehistoric cultures.
Shalam Colony & Oahspe Museum 1145 E. Mesa Ave. 575-524-9830. http://archives.nmsu.edu/exhibits/shalam/ Free admission. By appointment only. The Shalam Colony & Oahspe Mystery Museum is a small museum showcasing the true story of a mysterious manuscript and the first children’s utopia that was created because of it. 10 galleries & museums
Space Murals, Inc. 12450 Highway 70. 10 miles east of Las Cruces on Highway 70 575-382-0977 Free admission The museum features a gigantic water tower mural and museum honoring the space program. There is also an astronaut gallery, space artifacts and gift shop.
White Sands Missile Range Museum and Missile Park Located on White Sands Base, 25 miles east of Las Cruces on Highway 70 575-678-8824. www.wsmr-history.org Free admission You must have a current driver’s license, car registration and proof of insurance to enter the base. Tell sentries you are going to visit the museum and Missile Park. The facilities focus on the origin of the U.S. missile and space programs, and the beginning of the nuclear age. The Missile Park features weapons that won the Cold War and Operation Desert Storm.
Zuhl Geological Collection at New Mexico State University 775 College Dr. inside the NMSU Alumni and Visitors Center 575-646-3616. http://zuhlmuseum.nmsu.edu Free admission The Zuhl collection at NMSU showcases thousands of beautiful specimens of petrified wood, fossils and minerals.
11 Las Cruces golf
Nestled in warm southern New Mexico, Las Cruces is home to exciting championship- style golf at amateur prices, adding yet one more way to enjoy our 325 days of sunshine a year.
Local courses take advantage of many desert characteristics, forcing golfers to steer clear of tricky desert brush and unforgiving desert rough. At almost 4,000 feet above sea level, golf balls travel farther, sometimes bringing into play unexpected obstacles that can require some creative shot making.
Sonoma Ranch Golf Course is one of southern New Mexico’s finest public golf courses. The 18-hole, par-72 layout challenges golfers with fairways and greens that blend seamlessly with the natural desert landscape, and the rugged peaks of the Organ Mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop to the course. Sonoma Ranch includes a full service restaurant and practice facility. The course was also nominated for “Best New Course” in 2000 by Golf Digest.
Las Cruces’ longest course is the New Mexico State University Golf Course. Measuring in at more than 7,000 yards (from the blue tees) this 18-hole course takes golfers on a scenic journey of challenging greens and fair- ways, framed by roughs of native desert landscape. As the only university in New Mexico and one of the few in the nation to offer the Professional Golf Management program (PGM), NMSU is also one of the most challenging public courses in the state. Views of the Organ Mountains and plush Mesilla Valley cap off every round. In addition to practice facilities, there is a pro shop, snack bar and traveling beverage cart. The course is also home to the NMSU Aggie men’s & women’s golf teams, and has hosted three NCAA Championships as well as numerous high school and regional championships.
Red Hawk Golf Course is the newest addition to Las Cruces’ golfing community. This an 18-hole Ken Dye course is located on the city’s east mesa, and is a links-style course featuring rolling and generous greens with a challenging yet spacious design. It features five sets of tees with yardage ranging from 5,502 to 7,523. Hazards include five lakes (with water coming into play on eight holes) and 76 bunkers. The course can be accessed through SkyCaddie. Current course amenities include a golf shop and lounge, snack bar, on-site catering and will soon incorporate a full-service restaurant. Practice facilities include Las Cruces’ only double-sided driving range, as well as areas for chipping and putting.
Picacho Hills Country Club is the only private membership course in the city and offers reciprocal agreements with other clubs. The 18-hole, par-72 layout was built in 1978 and features bent-grass tees and greens, and bluegrass fairways. The desert-style course is located on the city’s west side, only minutes from downtown Las Cruces. The private club also has practice facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool and full-service clubhouse with restaurant.
12 las cruces golf
In addition to the fine courses Las Cruces has to offer, there are several courses located only a short distance away. Dos Lagos Golf Course, Santa Teresa Country Club & Golf Course and Anthony Country Club Golf Course are all about 30 minutes south of Las Cruces.
Desert Lakes Golf Course is a public course in Alamogordo, N.M., about an hour east of Las Cruces. And about 30 minutes east of Alamogordo is the Lodge at Cloudcroft Golf Course in Cloudcroft, N.M. This nine-hole public mountain course is only open April through November.
New Mexico State University Golf Course 3000 Herb Wimberly Dr. 575-646-3219. www.nmsugolf.com
Picacho Hills Country Club (private) 6861 Via Campestre in Picacho Hills, 575- 523-8641. www.picachohillscc.com
Red Hawk Golf Course 3601 Arroyo Rd. 575-513-7628. www.golflascruces.com
Sonoma Ranch Golf Course 1274 Golf Club Rd. 575-521-1818. www.sonomaranchgolf.com
13 Las Cruces - the hub & spoke
Las Cruces is not only the crossroads of warm weather, history, culture and fun, it is a launching point for southern New Mexico adventure and exploration.
Less than one hour east of Las Cruces, beyond the rugged Organ Mountains lies White Sands National Monument, one of the Earth’s most amazing sites. This vast desert of pure gypsum dunes mea- sures more than 275 square miles and provides a home to a wide array of unique desert plants and animals. Park ranger-guided tours and programs such as Full Moon Night, Sunset Strolls and the White Sands Evening Program, give visitors an opportunity to learn more about the dunes and enjoy the endless recreational possibilities. The monument is also an ideal spot for family outings and provides the perfect foreground to capture a beautiful New Mexico sunset.
A little farther down the highway is the New Mexico Museum of Space History, displaying artifacts and memorabilia documenting the history of U.S. space exploration. Also on site is the Clyde W. Tombaugh IMAX Dome Theater and Planetarium, so named for the discoverer of Pluto and long-time Las Cruces resident Clyde W. Tombaugh.
While in the area, visit El Paso, Texas, also known as “Paso del Norte” to early Spanish explorers. Today, the city serves as the gateway from Mexico to the United States, and boasts such attrac- tions as a zoo and minor-league baseball, hockey and soccer teams. Between El Paso and Las Cruces lies Sun- land Park Racetrack and Casino, equipped with a year-round casino and quarter horse and thoroughbred racing from December until May.
When heading north out of Las Cruces, stop and enjoy Elephant Butte Lake State Park and Caballo Reservoir, the largest lakes in the state and only one hour north of Las Cruces. Elephant Butte provides year-round water recreation and camping, with boat rental and storage available through the marina. Caballo Reservoir, just south of Elephant Butte, is ideal for fishing and bird watching.
West of Las Cruces is the Gila National Forest, City of Rocks State Park and Rockhound State Park. The Gila is home to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, the former home of the Mogollon Indians, and is also perfect for camping, hik- ing, mountain biking and motorcycling. City of Rocks State Park and Rockhound State Park are collections of unusual rock formations and giant monoliths formed from the erosion of volcanic materials many years ago. The parks are open for camping, picnicking, or sightseeing. All three are located about two hours west of Las Cru- ces.
14 Las Cruces history
For thousands of years, the Mesilla Valley was inhabited by ancient Native Americans called the Mogollon. The warm climate was ideal for survival, and the river provided a steady supply of food and water. But over time, the Mogollons disappeared, leaving only traces of their existence etched in rocks and canyon walls. Their culture was soon replaced by a new generation of New Mexicans led by Don Juan de Oñate.
In 1598, working on behalf of the King of Spain, Oñate and his men made their way up from Mexico through the Great Pass of the North (modern-day El Paso) and through the Mesilla Valley, en route to what was to be- come Santa Fe. Their route became known as El Camino Real (the royal road), and it quickly became the preferred way to travel between Mexico and Santa Fe. Oñate’s ex- pedition marked the first major European colonization of North America, and the Camino Real helped establish southern New Mexico.
By the mid-19th century, southern New Mexico was becoming a popular stop for travelers on their way to the West Coast and Mexico. At the end of the Mexican American War in 1848, the United States took control of southern New Mexico. A rush of settlers looking to claim a portion of the undeeded land poured into the new territory, forcing local leaders to call upon the U.S. Army for assistance. The Army sent Lt. Delos Bennett Sack- ett and a team of men to help protect and organize the emerging communities. Sackett and his men plotted out 84 city blocks, each containing four plots of land, and residents were required to draw for their new home site. Soon enough, Las Cruces was on its way.
As the town grew, so did the need for a name. No one knows exactly how Las Cruces was selected, but most historians conclude it is derived from the Spanish translation for “the crosses.” The coming of the railroad in the late 1800s brought even more prosperity to the up and coming town. In April 1881, the first train arrived in Las Cruces, and by 1900, the town population had tripled to nearly 3,000 residents.
In 1888, the New Mexico College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts opened its doors, and in 1893 it graduated its first class of five students.
In 1907, Las Cruces was officially incorporated as a town, and in 1912, New Mexico was awarded statehood, becoming the country’s 47th state. By this time, Las Cruces had its first water system, electric power, an ice factory, cold storage factory, cannery and steam laundry. Las Cruces also had a superintendent of schools and 13 teachers. Land sold for $25 to $50 an acre.
By the 1920s, Las Cruces’ population was close to 4,000 residents, and by 1940, it was almost 9,000. But the United States’ involvement in World War II dramatically affected life in Las Cruces. More than 2,000 New Mexi- cans died in the war, many of them on the Bataan Death March, and many of them were from southern New Mexico.
15 las cruces history
Another consequence of the war was a shortage of farm labor, leading to the establishment of the Emergency Farm Labor Program, which brought more than 900 German and Italian POWs to New Mexico to help farmers battle the labor shortage.
Ultimately, Las Cruces benefited from the war. The Tularosa Basin, east of Las Cruces, became one of the army’s most important weapons testing grounds, and the Trinity Site, located at the basin’s north end, was the site of the first atomic bomb exploded on Earth. By 1945, the Army Corps of Engineers declared White Sands Proving Ground an area of military necessity.
Today, both New Mexico State University (formerly New Mexico College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts) and White Sands Testing Facilities are key components of southern New Mexico’s economy. Both facilities have helped make Las Cruces the city it is today, and will hopefully continue to be a source of security and stability for the area’s future.
16 mesilla, new mexico history
Only minutes south of Las Cruces lies one of the most historic towns in the Southwest: La Mesilla, N.M. Mesilla did not become part of the United States until the mid-1850s, but its history begins with the close of the Mexican American War and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe. Soon after, the sleepy border town would become one of the most impor- tant towns in the West, playing a key role in western expansion.
When the United States entered into the Treaty of Guadalupe in 1848, it gained control over Texas, New Mexico and Upper California, setting the Mexican-American border at Rio Grande River. For many people who had lived their entire lives as Mexican citizens, the idea of becoming Americans did not sit well, and many moved across the Rio Grande back into Mexico. They settled on a small hill and founded the town of La Mesilla.
By the mid-1850s, Mesilla had established itself as an instrumental town in the transportation of passengers and goods around the Southwest. The Mexican town prospered as it became one of the only places travelers could stop, rest and get supplies, no matter which direction they were heading. But when the Gadsden Purchase was ratified in 1854, the small town would again fall under the authority of the United States as the U.S. gained con- trol of nearly 30,000 square miles of northern Mexico, southern Arizona and New Mexico. By the mid-1800s, Mesilla’s population had reached 3,000, making it the largest town and trade center between San Antonio and San Diego, and an important stop for both the Butterfield Stage Line and the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Lines.
Around the plaza, fine hotels and restaurants were built to accommodate the influx of travelers and new residents. Drove-muleteers and miners traveling between El Paso, Santa Fe and mining companies in the Gila and San Andres Mountains regularly purchased supplies in Mesilla, prompting wholesalers from as far away as San Antonio and St. Louis to advertise in Mesilla newspapers. The town was also frequented by Apache Indians, who regularly attacked, stealing livestock and food, and taking captives.
But the Apaches were not the only ones to invade Mesilla. During the 1850s, Confederate troops invaded the small town, taking control and declaring it the capital of the Arizona Territory of the Confederate States of America. Headquarters were set up in what is currently the Fountain Theatre, and although some residents supported the Confederate cause, the town continued to celebrate its Mexican heritage. The broad mix of political views and cultures often resulted in riots and shootouts, quite a contrast to the fiestas, dances and fairs residents were accustomed to.
Mesilla continued to grow and prosper until the early 1880s, when the Santa Fe Railroad selected nearby Las Cruces instead of Mesilla for the location of its newest route. Mesilla landowners resented the railroad’s assumption that local residents would help build the line, prompting Las Cruces businessmen to persuade the railroad giant northward. With attention now focused on Las Cruces, Mesilla’s appeal and importance began to disappear. To this day, its size and population are virtually the same as they were 120 years ago.
17 mesilla, New Mexico
But the coming of the railroad brought with it its own set of problems to the area. Workers consumed huge quantities of beef, placing city officials at the mercy of cattle rustlers. Gun- fights often broke out in the streets of both Las Cruces and Mesilla, and criminals like Nicolas Provencio and Dutch Hubert were regulars in both towns. Even western outlaw William H. Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid - a frequent visitor of both towns - was tried and convicted for murder in a Mesilla court- room. It was said that during sentencing, the judge told Billy he would hang until he was “dead, dead, dead,” to which Billy replied, “Well you can go to hell, hell, hell.” Billy was later shot and killed by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett after escaping from a Lincoln County jail cell, where he was awaiting execu- tion.
Mesilla Today
Today, visitors won’t find wild gunfights or riots on Mesilla’s streets; rather they can visit a new generation of Mesilla resi- dents. Where a stagecoach depot, saloon, courthouse and hotel once stood, you now find restaurants, art galleries, bookstores and shops. On some weekends, the plaza plays host to festi- vals and events like Cinco de Mayo, Diez y Seis de Septiembre and Dia de los Muertos, all celebrating the town’s heritage and colorful past. During the holiday season, the plaza is aglow with luminarias and filled with the sounds of carolers. Visitors can also see the San Albino Church, built from adobe more than 100 years ago, or the Gadsden Museum, a local landmark recounting the area’s rich history. And just down the street, shoppers can find the latest addition to Mesilla, the Mercado de Mesilla, featuring an array of merchants, vendors and restaurants.
Efforts to preserve the town’s rich history, culture and architecture have made Mesilla one of the best-known and most-visited historic communities in southern New Mexico. Year-round, visitors can experience all the intrigue and independence this historic village has to offer.
18 the great outdoors
When you’re blessed with 325 days of sunshine a year, finding something to do outdoors is not a problem, but finding the time to take advantage of all Las Cruces has to offer can be.
Las Cruces’ location at the crossroads of interstates 10 and 25 is ideal for travel- ers, but it also affords visitors the perfect climate to enjoy a host of year-round out- door activities. The city’s yearly average temperatures range from highs of 97° in July and August to 58° in December and Janu- ary, and mid-70s and 80s in March and April.
Golfing is a popular pasttime in Las Cruces, and all three local courses offer year-round play for golfers of every skill level. Red Hawk Golf Course is the newest addition to Las Cruces’ golf- ing community. Located on the city’s east mesa, Red Hawk is a links-style course featuring rolling and generous greens with a challenging yet spacious design. It features five sets of tees with yardage ranging from 5,502 to 7,523. Hazards include five lakes (with water coming into play on eight holes) and 76 bunkers.
Sonoma Ranch Golf Course is located in the Sonoma Ranch housing community. Designed by Cal Olson, the 7,028-yard course features rolling hills strewn with bunkers and undulating bent grass greens. With five tee boxes, it offers a stimulating challenge for all levels of golfer. It is equipped with paved cart paths and a club- house with a full-service restaurant.
Designed by Floyd Farley in 1963, the course at New Mexico State University is an 18-hole course framed by the majestic Organ Mountains to the east and the picturesque Mesilla Valley to the west. Measuring more than 7,000 yards, the course provides a challenge to golfers of all skill levels with a unique combination of traditional and desert golf featuring large greens and generous fairways. Well-positioned trees throughout the course pro- vide shade in the summer, but a challenge to golfers year-round.
Shifting from manicured fairways to the rugged peaks of the Organ Mountains, Las Cruces has become a ha- ven for hikers and mountain bikers. The Organs offer two main recreational areas: Aguirre Springs and Dripping Springs. Aguirre Springs features hiking, mountain biking, picnicking and camping at one of the most scenic areas in southern New Mexico. From the campsites are two trails: Baylor Pass and Pine Tree Trail, both listed with the National Recreation Trail System. Baylor Pass is a 6-mile trek starting on the east side of the mountain and ascending to the top of Baylor Pass, approximately 5,500 feet high. This trail is only suitable for hiking and horseback riding. The Pine Tree Trail is a 4-mile loop for hiking only. At Dripping Springs/La Cueva, the Organ’s other recreational area, hikers can choose between two trails - one leading to the Dripping Springs Resort ruins, a former hotel and sanctuary for tuberculosis sufferers, or the other leading to La Cueva, a mountain cave believed to be used for shelter by the prehistoric Mogollon Indians. Both trails are approximately 1 mile long and are only designed for hiking. For biking, both the East and West mesa are perfect for riding and contain many trails of varying skill levels. And to its credit, Las Cruces was named one of the “Top Five Best Places to Live and Ride” by Bike Magazine.
19 the great outdoors
If after exploring the trails of the Organ Mountains, you are still longing for more, head over to the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park, located on Las Cruces’ east mesa. The 960-acre, topographically and biologically diverse Nature Park site is located in the northern tip of the Chihuahuan Desert. The site currently features a 1.5-mile walking trail with plant identification signs, the Desert Experience Mini-Trail, picnic areas, a science demonstration plot, a parking lot, restroom facilities and a 150-seat amphitheater.
Las Cruces also offers a variety of additional year-round leisure activities, including tennis, fishing, swimming, softball and baseball.
And not far from Las Cruces, visitors can also enjoy sunny skies and warm weather while visiting state parks, national monuments and forests. White Sands National Monument is located less than one hour from Las Cruces and offers year-round family recreation. To the west is Rockhound State Park, City of Rocks State Park and the Gila National Forest, all suited for camping, hiking, picnicking and biking.
20 CULINARY EXPERIENCES IN LAS CRUCES
Red or green? Hot or mild? Addictive, but legal? These questions can only describe one thing: New Mexico chile. And the best New Mexican chile can be found in the Mesilla Val- ley.
Only in Las Cruces will you find the Chile Pepper Institute – the world’s only interna- tional, nonprofit organization devoted to education and research of chile peppers. Travelers can tour the institute’s public Teaching Garden, where 150 of the world’s hottest chiles from around the world are grown. The Chile Pepper Institute Teaching Garden is open seven days a week from June to October. To take a piece of the institute home, visitors can purchase chile seeds, food items and other merchandise in the visitors center and gift shop on the New Mexico State University campus.
Some of the most authentic Mexican food north of the border can be found in the Mesilla Valley, which was once part of Mexico itself. Taste for yourself on the city’s new salsa trail, whose 26 participating restaurants were voted on by local experts. Visitors can download a Las Cruces Salsa Experience trail map at www.lascru- cescvb.org.
To sample the other flavors of the Mesilla Valley, don’t miss the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market, a ma- jor attraction in the area. What began as a small gathering of local farmers in 1971 has evolved into the “No. 1 Large Farmers Market in the Nation,” as named in America’s Farmland Trust’s 2011 prestigious nationwide poll. The market today comprises more than 300 vendors across seven city blocks on downtown Main Street, selling local foods and produce, arts and crafts, jewelry and other handmade items. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.
It may surprise wine lovers to learn that New Mexico – not California – is the nation’s oldest wine-growing region. The first vines in New Mexico were planted in 1629, well before the first California vines in 1769. Today, New Mexico’s sunny climate, cool high-desert nights and ideal soil produce award-winning wines, many of them from the Las Cruces area. One such producer is Rio Grande Vineyard & Winery, whose 10-acre vineyard contains 12 European grape varieties. Travelers can visit Rio Grande’s tasting room Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays or by appointment six days per week.
For craft beer lovers, De La Vega’s Pecan Grill & Brewery is a must, offering 12 craft brews that speak to a va- riety of palates. From smooth, malty lagers to hoppy IPAs and chocolaty stouts, the menu include specialties like the Las Cruces Lager, Aggie Amber Ale and Green Chile Ale. Another local pub specializing in craft beers is High Desert Brewing Company, whose 27 handcrafted, small-batch ales and lagers are produced on site. High Desert visitors can even take their favorite brews home with them.
21 LAS CRUCES CULINARY ATTRACTIONS
Chile Pepper Institute Visitors Center and Gift Shop Gerald Thomas Hall, Room 265 945 College Ave. 575-646-5284. www.chilepepperinstitute.org The Chile Pepper Institute Teaching Garden is open seven days a week, June to October, at 113 W. University Ave.
Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market Downtown Main Street 575-501-3853. www.fcmlc.org
Rio Grande Vineyard & Winery 5321 Highway 28 (at mile marker 25) 575-524-3985. www.riograndewinery.com
De La Vega’s Pecan Grill & Brewery 500 S. Telshor Blvd. 575-521-1099. www.pecangrill.com
High Desert Brewing Company 1201 W. Hadley Ave. 575-525-6752. www.highdesertbrewingco.com
22 FAMILY TRAVEL IN LAS CRUCES
Named one of the country’s top 10 spring break destinations for families by Guidebook America, Las Cruces is an oasis of cultural ex- ploration and discovery. It’s also easily acces- sible by car or plane, less than an hour’s drive from the El Paso International Airport.
Whether you’re just passing through or have a little more time to spend, family-friendly options abound in and around Las Cruces. Start the day Saturday at the Farmers and Crafts Market, where families can explore seven downtown blocks overflowing with local art and souvenirs, colorful fruits and veggies, kettle corn, coffee and baked goods, as well as musical entertainment to stimulate all the senses. While downtown, visit the Las Cruces Museum of Art, where kids can partic- ipate in hands-on projects, and the Branigan Cultural Center, which offers storytelling on Saturday mornings and a family exhibit activity every day.
At the interactive New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, families can watch a cow being milked, stroll along corrals filled with livestock, enjoy several gardens, and watch milking and blacksmithing demonstrations. After learning about New Mexico’s rich farming and ranching heritage, kids can apply their newfound knowl- edge through a horseback ride at Corralitos Ranch, a working ranch offering two-hour rides for ages 8 and older. The ranch is also home to Native rock art, old mines and abandoned homesteads for exploration.
Another popular family activity is sledding – sand sledding, that is – at White Sands National Monument, lo- cated roughly 45 miles east of Las Cruces. The monument protects the world’s largest gypsum dunefield and the unique plants and animals that survive in this otherworldly place. The dunes provide excellent recreation activities for families, such as picnics, nature hikes and special events, and waxed plastic saucers for sledding are available for purchase at the park gift shop. Also at the visitor center, kids can pick up a free Junior Ranger activity booklet, complete the activities and earn a Junior Dunes Ranger badge and certificate.
To make the most out of their trip, the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau invites families to join the Las Cruces Explorers Kids Club. With each hotel package booked on the CVB website, participants will receive an Explorers kit containing a free 12-megapixel camera, Explorers Kids hat, sunscreen, lip balm, tote bag and part- ner directory containing special offers at restaurants and attractions around town. Sample family itineraries and additional information are available at www.lascrucescvb.org. Click on the Deals & Packages link for Explorers Club hotel package offers and amenities.
23 LAS CRUCES FAMILY ATTRACTIONS
Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market Downtown Main Street 575-501-3853. www.fcmlc.org
Las Cruces Museum of Art 491 Main St. Free admission 575-541-2137. www.las-cruces.org/museums See rotating multimedia exhibits and create a hands-on takeaway art project. Closed on Sundays and Mon- days.
Branigan Cultural Center 500 N. Main St. 575-541-2154. www.las-cruces.org/museums Free admission Make and take home a Frida Kahlo activity for the entire family. Free storytelling sessions are held at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and include a visit to the museum and coupon for the COAS Bookstore. Kids activity work- shops are held the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum 4100 Dripping Springs Rd. 1.5 miles east of Telshor Blvd. on University Ave. 575-522-4100. www.frhm.org Admission $1-5 Family workshops are held regularly. Pony rides for children are available from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays for $5 per ride.
Corralitos Ranch 3000 Corralitos Rd. 575-640-8184. www.corralitostrailrides.com Call for rates
White Sands National Monument Visitor center located on Highway US-70 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces 575-479-6142. www.nps.gov/whsa $3 admission for adults; children are free Visitor center hours change with the seasons. Call ahead for hours of op
24