Velarde in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Velarde

On the Camino Real

Photographed by Richard Denney, October 18, 2013

1. Velarde Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1875, this small farming community was named La Jolla. It was once famous for finely woven blankets. Here the Camino Real left the Rio Grande and followed a canyon northeast to Embudo Creek where it began a climb over the mountains to Taos.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 36° 10.414′ N, 105° 58.192′ W. Marker is in Velarde, New Mexico, in Rio Arriba County. It is at the intersection of State Road 68 and County Road 60, on the left when traveling north on State Road 68. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1473 Highway 68, Velarde NM 87582, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

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 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rio Grande Gaging Station (approx. 0.9 miles away); Embudo Stream-Gaging Station (approx. 3½ miles away); Historic Los Luceros (approx. 5½ miles away); San Gabriel (approx. 9.9 miles away); Esther Martinez - P’oe Tsáwäˀ (1912-2006)

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(approx. 9.9 miles away); Santa Cruz (approx. 9.9 miles away); Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (approx. 10 miles away); Pilar (approx. 12 miles away).

Additional keywords. Taos, Rio Grande

Photographed by Thomas Chris English, June 7, 2011

2. Velarde Marker

Photographed by Thomas Chris English, June 7, 2011

3. Velarde

Photographed by Richard Denney, October 18, 2013

4. Velarde Marker

Backside of the marker, looking north to a canyon through which the Rio Grande and the current highway 68 run. The canyon referenced on the marker through which El Camino Real ran is off to the right.

Velarde Marker Reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Chris English, June 7, 2011

5. Velarde Marker Reverse

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 23, 2011

6. Velarde Marker

View south on NM highway 68 taken at 11:30am.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2011, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,521 times since then and 74 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1. submitted on October 31, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on June 27, 2011, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. 4. submitted on October 31, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 5. submitted on June 27, 2011, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. 6. submitted on August 6, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.