Near San Antonio in Socorro County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Royal Road
Photographed by James Hulse, June 24, 2024
1. The Royal Road Marker
Inscription.
The Royal Road. . In 1598, a group of strangers crossed the lands of the Piro and Apache Indians. Spanish armies had passed through here before. This was different. Settlers, priests, guides, and servants traveled with the caravan. They followed trade routes Indigenous peoples had used for centuries. Along with livestock and loaded carros (wagons) and carretas (carts), the expedition brought the Spanish Empire's claims to the land. This route became known as El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (The Royal Road to the Interior Lands). For the next three centuries, El Camino Real served as a route of conquest, settlement, religious conversion, trade, enslavement, and military actions., Captions , El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro stretches 1600 miles. It once linked Spain's colonial capital of Mexico City to its northern frontier in what is now New Mexico., Congress designated El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro a National Historic Trail in 2000. The Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service administer the trail together to foster trail preservation and public use.
In 1598, a group of strangers crossed the lands of the Piro and Apache Indians. Spanish armies had passed through here before. This was different. Settlers, priests, guides, and servants traveled with the caravan. They followed trade routes Indigenous peoples had used for centuries. Along with livestock and loaded carros (wagons) and carretas (carts), the expedition brought the Spanish Empire's claims to the land. This route became known as El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (The Royal Road to the Interior Lands). For the next three centuries, El Camino Real served as a route of conquest, settlement, religious conversion, trade, enslavement, and military actions.
Captions
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro stretches 1600 miles. It once linked Spain's colonial capital of Mexico City to its northern frontier in what is now New Mexico.
Congress designated El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro a National Historic Trail in 2000. The Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service administer the trail together to foster trail preservation and public use.
Erected by National Conservation Lands, El Camino Real de Tierra
Click or scan to see this page online
Adentro National Historic Trail and Fort Craig Historic Site.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1598.
Location. 33° 39.846′ N, 107° 4.763′ W. Marker is near San Antonio, New Mexico, in Socorro County. It is on Fort Craig Road 0.3 miles east of Old US Hwy 25, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located along the road on the way to Fort Craig. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12 Fort Craig Road, San Antonio NM 87832, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest New Mexico and in the Rio Grande Valley. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Journey of the Dead Man (here, next to this marker); Guarding the Trail (a few steps from this marker);
Photographed by James Hulse, June 24, 2024
2. The Royal Road Marker is the second marker from the left side of the markers
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 190 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
