Las Vegas NM - Santa Fé - Gallup

Walk through Las Vegas, New Mexico and you walk through film history, from Silent Movies to Oscar winners.

Flat roofed, log and adobe houses stand side-by-side on Bridge Street, Las Vegas, NM

Plaza Park, Las Vegas, NM, one of the locations in the Kris Kristofferson and Ali MacGraw movie "Convoy" (1978), "Easy Rider" (1969) and many more.

Estella's Cafe used to be a "jumpy little Mexican" place, Bridge Street, Las Vegas, NM

This building (build 1885) was originally occupied by the office for the Stock Grower weekly newspaper before being taken over by the Stern and Nahm dry goods firm in 1897. Las Vegas, NM

Stern and Nahm House, Las Vegas, New Mexico 

The Kiva Theatre appeared in the 1940 business directory and still entertains patrons today, Las Vegas, NM

109 Bridge Street: Kiva Theatre, Las Vegas, NM

Mural on a building at the corner of Bridge Street and Gallinas Creek Bridge, Las Vegas, NM 

The bridge over the Gallinas Creek is named after Francisco Vasques Coronado, a Spanish Explorer, Las Vegas, NM

Bridge Street, Las Vegas, NM is a location of several movies (LV Film Commission)

Friendliness on Bridge Street, Las Vegas, NM

The Dons are a West Las Vegas High School Baseball Team

From 1882-1885 the Courtroom Building, 213 S Plaza, Las Vegas, NM, served as a courtroom.
Like many buildings of the 1880's it used readily available local stone for its side wall, reserving brick, which had to be shipped in by rail, for its facade.

At New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, students discover amazing new paths to success.

De Vargas Street House, located at 215 E De Vargas Street on the eastern side of Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe, NM within the Barrio De Analco Historic District, is one of the Oldest buildings in America.

Santa Fe, NM founded in the 1610, is the oldest capital city in the United States and the oldest city in New Mexico. The City Fathers recognized early the importance of preservation and beautification of their city, therefore all buildings must be build in traditional pueblo style (adobe construction).  

The city's full name when founded was "La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis" (The Royal Town of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi).

Elevation Bistro, 103 E Water Street, Santa Fe, NM where we had some great roasted duck and grilled lamb.

E San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM

The Plaza, ending place of the Santa Fe Trail, which was a 19th century transportation route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri with Santa Fee, New Mexico. Pionneered in 1821 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial highway until the introduction of the railroad in 1880.

Canyon Road, east of the Plaza, has the highest concentration of art galleries in the city.

Santa Fe is well know as a center for arts that reflect the multicultural character of the city and is a major destination for international collectors, tourists and locals. 

Native, even the entrance to the parking, Santa Fe, NM.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, commonly known as Saint Francis Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in downtown Santa Fe, NM and was build by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy between 1869 and 1886.

Downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico

Fly, fly high, Saint Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe, NM

San Miguel Mission is a Spanish colonial mission church in Santa Fe, NM. 

Build between approx. 1610 and 1626, it is claimed to be the oldest church in the United States.

Spanish missionaries explored the area and battles were fought over this land, Outlaws and Confederate soldiers camped here as well. And Kid Carson marched Navajo people along the Trail in their "Long Walk" to incarceration at Fort Summer.

Heading to Madrid, NM still on the National Scenic Byway Tourquoise Tail.

Madrid's rich history, dating in the mid 1800's, has taken it from the discovery of coal, to a mining town, to today's distinctive artist's community. 

Highway 14, also known as "Tourquoise Trail" leads through the town with it's quality shops, galleries and services.

"Maggie's Diner" from "Wild Hogs", now a store selling movie memorabilia and T-shirts, Madrid, NM.

Wild Hogs!!!

CR 57A, Los Cerrillos, after Madrid, NM on Highway 14 (Tourquoise Trail)

The KiMo Theatre is located at 423 Central Avenue NW downtown Albuquerque, NM 

and it is probably the city's best-known landmark. It was build in 1927 in the extravagant Art Deco-Pueblo Revival Style architecture.

The name "KiMo", literally translated as "mountain lion" in Tewa, and sometimes loosely translated as "King of its kind", was supplied by Isleta Pueblo Govenor Pablo Abeita, who won $50 for his suggestion.

Stop it and look for your own subjects ;-), Sister Bar, 407 Central Ave, Albuquerque, NM

Come and join me for a drink, I'm at the Sister Bar in Abluquerque, NM

Inside the Sister Bar, Albuquerque, NM

Cowboy Muffler Man "Dude" on the roof of John's Used cars, located alongside Route 66, is still standing in the classic Muffler Man pose.

The historic El Rancho Hotel provides a unique Southwest Experience in the midst of the American West. The El Rancho Hotel is a pillar of the West and was the Home of the Movie Stars throughout the 1930s to 1940s who filmed Western in this area. Guests included such stars as Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, John Wayn and over 150 others.

Route 66 leads alongside the historic El Rancho Hotel, which was the base camp for Western Movies.

The El Rancho Hotel offers Southwest dining at its finest. The 49er Lounge in the El Rancho was listed as one of the Top 50 bars in the USA by Esquire Magazine. The Ortega's Jewelry Store in the El Rancho offers access to some of the best American Indian Artwork available.

Many Motels lined up at the Historic Route 66 in Gallup, NM.  

Gallup, NM was founded in 1881 as a railhead for the Atlantic and Pacific Railraod.

Gallup, NM is known as the "Heart of Indian Country" because it is in the middle of the Navajo reservation and home to many tribes.