Railroad Boom Town

Railroad Boom Town. . , Until the railroad arrived, there was no town where Antonito exists today. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) had originally intended to establish its southern operations in the village of Conejos. Settlers there, some of the earliest to the San Luis Valley, were resistant to the mass of newcomers the railroad would bring. As a result, the railroad established Antonito, just a mile to the southeast. , The San Juan Extension was completed in 1881, creating a boom in Antonito. Over 2,000 people quickly converged on the settlement from all over the world (the 2010 Census listed 781 residents). Railroad buildings, hotels, saloons, banks, eateries, homes, and other buildings were constructed to accommodate the railroad and new settlers. , The San Juan Extension transported passengers, as well as mail, newspapers, and other goods to communities along the line. Livestock, agricultural goods, lumber, ore, and mining equipment were shipped on the line as well. As other modes of transportation were becoming more popular, the extension ceased operation in 1967. , [photo captions] , . The train is saved! In 1970, Colorado and New Mexico joined together to purchase the portion of the railroad between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. Today you can immerse yourself in a sensory an living history experience abord the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad , one of only two surviving sections of the original San Juan narrow gauge. , . [background image] Cars are parked on a commercial street sometime between 1910 and 1920, Main Street, in Antonito, Colorado, Timeline [across bottom of interpretive panel] , 1812 . War of 18 12 between U.S. and Britain , 1832 . Conejos Guadalupe Land Grant bestowed by Mexico to 50 New Mexican families , 1843 . Sangre de Cristo Land Grant bestowed by Mexico to Narcisco Beaubien and Stephen Lee , 1846-1848 . Mexican American War , 1848 . U.S. defeated Mexico, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed , 1851 . Settlement of San Luis established (oldest town in Colorado) , 1852 . U.S. military establishes Fort Massachusetts , 1852-1860 . Other settlements established on east side of valley: San Pablo Garcia, San Pedro, San Acacio, Chama, Los Fuertes, Jaroso, San Francisco, Mesita , 1854-1870 . Guadalupe settled (earliest permanent settlement on west side of the San Luis Valley): Mogote, Conejos, Los Rincones, Las Mesitas, San Rafael, Ceniceros/Lobatos, Cañon, Capulin, Los Sauces, Los Cerritos, La Florida, La Isla, Espinoza, El Centrito , 1858 . Fort Garland established , 1861 . San Luis Valley becomes part of Colorado Territory , 1861 . Colorado becomes U.S. Territory , 1861-1865 . U.S. Civil War , 1874-1888 . Mormon settlers establish: Manassa, Richfield, Romeo, Sanford, Morgan , 1876 . Colorado granted U.S. statehood , 1877 . Denver and Rio Grande Railroad arrives in San Luis Valley near Fort Garland , 1878-1880 . Railroad settlements/towns established: Alamosa, La Jara, Antonito , 1883 . Fort Garland abandoned , 1900 . La Sociedad Protección Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos (SPMDTU) founded in Antonito