Relive the History of Albuquerque at These Sites
Here's a fun fact: Albuquerque is one of the oldest cities in America. Even though it was founded in 1706, the Native Americans called this place home for thousands of years. How do we know? Because the Albuquerque area is filled with amazing carvings and relics of the past, such as the ancient rock carvings at Petroglyph National Monument.
Yet it's not only the distant past that makes Albuquerque so interesting. You can see the more recent past as well displayed in the vintage neon signs along Route 66, or the historic Old Town Plaza.
How can explore the rich history of Albuquerque for yourself? There are plenty of ways to discover the distant and recent past of the area through the landmarks and historic sites of the area. Here's a few of the best historic sites in Albuquerque to take you on your own personal journey back in time.
New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society
This is a working restoration operation staffed with skilled volunteer welders, pipe-fitters, mechanics and many other trades. Free tours are available to visitors on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Petroglyph National Monument stretches 17 miles (27 km) along Albuquerque, New Mexico's West Mesa, a volcanic basalt escarpment that dominates the city's western horizon. Authorized June 27, 1990, the 7,236 acre (29.28 km2) monument is cooperatively managed by the National Park Service and the City of Albuquerque. The western boundary of the monument features a chain of dormant fissure volcanoes. Beginning in the northwest corner, Butte volcano is followed to its south by Bond, Vulcan, Black and JA volcanoes.
Old Town is the historic original town site of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the provincial kingdom of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, established in 1706 by New Mexico governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés. It is listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties as the Old Albuquerque Historic District, and is protected by a special historic zoning designation by the city. The present-day district contains about ten blocks of historic adobe buildings surrounding Old Town Plaza. On the plaza's north side stands San Felipe de Neri Church, a Spanish colonial church constructed in 1793.
The exact spot where the first atomic bomb was detonated. Trinity was the code name of the first detonation of a nuclear weapon. It was conducted by the United States Army at 5:29 a.m. on July 16, 1945, as part of the Manhattan Project. The test was conducted in the Jornada del Muerto desert about 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Socorro, New Mexico, on what was then the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range, now part of White Sands Missile Range.
The Gutierrez-Hubbell House is a cultural and agricultural learning center developed to document, research and preserve history, maintain open spaces, protect wildlife and teach agricultural heritage.
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