The
university and agricultural center for southeastern New
Mexico, Las Cruces is located only 44 miles from El Paso,
Texas. In the early 1800s, the town was a stopping point
on the old Camino Real -- the Spanish trail that linked
Santa Fe and Mexico City. In 1830, a caravan of travelers
along the road was massacred by Apaches, and many crosses
were placed in the burial grounds. Thus the city's name
("the crosses").
The
Santa Fe Railroad came to town in 1881, and New Mexico
State University was established here in 1888. The waters
of the Rio Grande were used to irrigate the desert
throughout this area, and Las Cruces became a major
farming hub.
This
is the place to visit if you're fascinated by chile
peppers. The famed New Mexico green chile is grown here
in abundance. The best place to shop for fresh green
chiles, at roadside stands, is in Hatch, a little town 20
miles north of Las Cruces. Hatch chiles are found across
the country in most of the restaurants that serve the
popular Southwestern cuisine.
Outdoor
Recreation
The
Organ Mountains lie just to the east of the city,
offering several places for hiking and picnicking,
including the Aguirre Spring National Recreation
Site.
Leasburg
Dam State Park, near Hatch, is a popular place for
canoeing and fishing on the Rio Grande. An irrigation dam
backs up the river, making a small lake. There's a picnic
area beside the river, below the dam, and a campground is
located on the desert overlooking the river. It's an
ideal place to camp while visiting the area, just 15
miles north of Las Cruces via New Mexico Route 85.
Fort
Seldon State Monument
The
historic site is 14 miles north of the city via
Interstate 25. Established in 1865 and abandoned in 1891,
Fort Seldon protected settlers and travelers against
Indian raids. The site is open daily and a self-guided
tour will take you to the adobe ruins of the fort from
the visitor center. A small museum has historic exhibits,
including displays of army uniforms and guns of the
period when the fort was active. For information, call
(505) 526-8911.
State
University
New
Mexico State is situated three miles southeast of the
downtown area, at University Avenue and Locust Street.
The university offers free admission to its Museum of
Regional History (open daily except Mondays). There is an
art gallery on the campus, as well as an 18-hole golf
course open to the public, daily, on a pay-for-play
basis.
Farmers
Market
Every
Wednesday and Saturday morning, throughout the year, the
Downtown Mall on Main Street becomes a farmers market.
You'll find fresh produce straight from local farms, plus
baked goods, crafts and jewelry. Hundreds of people flock
to the market and it pays to get there early (around 8
am).
The
most renowned local agricultural product is the New
Mexico green chile pepper. Hatch is a nearby town ion the
center of the chile pepper fields, and the green chiles
are commonly called Hatch chiles. They are available at
the Las Cruces Farmers Market, as well as at chile stands
closer to Hatch.
Scenic
Drives
The
most popular day-trip leads through the Organ Mountains
to White Sands National Monument. This tour is featured
in the scenic drive that begins on page 320. Other
popular jaunts include the short drives to El Paso and
into Mexico from the border crossing a few miles south of
Las Cruces.
