End of an Era

End of an Era. . Imagine the excitement when, on July 4, 1879, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad steamed into town for the first time. Suddenly you could travel from Kansas City to Las Vegas in days, not months. But the arrival of the railroad marked the end for one of the great overland trails. The Santa Fe Trail had been an important highway of commerce for almost 60 years, running between Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Travelers and traders had struggled to cover the arduous 900 miles, which often took two months or more. And now the trip could be made, in the comfort of a railway coach, in a few days. , The railroad spawned a population boom attracting newcomers both respectable and lawless. Legendary outlaws such as Billy the Kid, Jesse James, and Doc Holliday all visited Las Vegas. , Queen of the West , Las Vegas, founded in 1835, and named for the meadows that surrounded it, was an important stop on the Santa Fe Trail. It quickly prospered due to the constant trail traffic, and by 1850, was the most important city between Kansas City and Santa Fe. It continued to prosper after the railroad arrived and into the early years of the 20th century. It was the “Queen of the West” boasting the finest hotels, restaurants, drinking establishments, mercantile houses, and opera houses. , Trail Sites Nearby , Las Vegas Plaza From a rooftop on the north side of Las Vegas Plaza, General Stephen Watts Kearny proclaimed New Mexico as part of the rapidly expanding United States in 1846. A plaque commemorates the event. , Watrous The Samuel Watrous store today is a private ranch house. It was an important rest stop and source of supplies for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. , Wagon Mound This landmark could be seen for miles and signaled to the westbound trail travelers that they were only 12 days from Santa Fe. , [Captions] , . (Left) The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad reached Las Vegas on July 4, 1879, ending the need for the Santa Fe Trail. , . (Right) The tracks were laid one mile east of town and a separate “new” town sprang up east of the Callinas River. The two towns weren't joined until 1971.