Near Las Vegas in San Miguel County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Puertocito de la Piedra Lumbre

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 14, 2023

1. Puertocito de la Piedra Lumbre Marker (English side)

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Near this spot on November 13, 1821, a band of six Missouri traders led by William Becknell, encountered a force of more than 400 Mexican soldiers, militia, and Pueblo Indians under the command of Caption Pedro Ignacio Gallego. This peaceful meeting and the subsequent arrival of Becknell in Santa Fe, marked the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail as a commercial link between the United States and Mexico.

Cerca de este sitio el 13 de Noviembre, 1821, seis commerciantes de Missouri, dirijidos por William Becknell, encontraron una fuerza de mas de 400 soldados Mejicanos, milicia, y indios de pueblo mandados por el Capitan Pedro Ignacio Gallego. Este encuentro pacifico y a llegada de Becknell a Santa Fe, inició el Camino de Santa Fe como una ruta comercial entre Los Estados Unidos de N.A. y Mejico.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Events • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Santa Fe Trail series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 13, 1821.

Location. 35° 33.475′ N,

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105° 14.218′ W. Marker is near Las Vegas, New Mexico, in San Miguel County. It is on New Mexico Route 283 ¾ mile west of Romeoville Frontage Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 73 State Route 283, Las Vegas NM 87701, 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 on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A Landmark Meeting (here, next to this marker); Kearny Gap (a few steps from this marker); A. Dold & Company / Charles Emil Wesche General Merchandise Store (approx. 2.4 miles away); Veeder Block (approx. 2½ miles away); Dold Block (approx. 2½ miles away); Santa Fe Trail (approx. 2½ miles away); Plaza Hotel (approx. 2½ miles away); First National Bank of Las Vegas

Puertocito de la Piedra Lumbre Marker (Spanish side) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 14, 2023

2. Puertocito de la Piedra Lumbre Marker (Spanish side)

(approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Las Vegas.

Also see . . . William Becknell – Father of the Santa Fe Trail. William Becknell was a frontiersman, trader, soldier, and politician who is credited with opening the Santa Fe Trail in 1821. (Kathy Alexander, Legends of America) (Submitted on November 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Puertocito de la Piedra Lumbre Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 14, 2023

3. Puertocito de la Piedra Lumbre Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 395 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.