As America marks its 250th anniversary, explore local stories, historical milestones and special events that celebrate Las Cruces' place in the American story.
250 years of Local History
Digital Timeline Flipbook COMING SOON!
Highlights
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El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro serves as a camping stop along the Spanish King’s Royal Road, connecting Mexico City with northern New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Taos, and helped establish Las Cruces as a natural stopping point for travelers moving through the region.
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The New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts (later New Mexico State University) is established, with Hirram Hadley as its first president. It is located at Alameda and Amador Ave., on the present-day site of WaFd Bank.
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New Mexico becomes a state and Las Cruces is officially incorporated as a city.
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The Rio Grande Theater opens in downtown Las Cruces, screening silent films.
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The atomic bomb detonates at the Trinity Site at White Sands Missile Range, and residents of Las Cruces feel the effects of the explosion.
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The city’s second high school, Mayfield High School, is built, sparking what would become one of the nation’s top high school rivalries.
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The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum opens in south Las Cruces, preserving and showcasing the state’s 4,000-year agricultural history through interactive exhibits, a working ranch and cultural demonstrations. The museum grows into one of southern New Mexico’s top attractions.
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Main Street in downtown Las Cruces reopens to vehicle traffic for the first time in decades after years as a pedestrian mall.
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Las Cruces remains New Mexico’s second-largest city with a population of 116,998, serving as a regional hub for education, healthcare, commerce and tourism across southern New Mexico and the border region.