Near Henderson in Clark County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Old Spanish Trail – Armijo's Route

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2010

1. The Old Spanish Trail – Armijo's Route Marker

Inscription. On January 8, 1830, the first pack train to pass from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Los Angles crossed Las Vegas Valley. Antonio Armijo, a merchant in Santa Fe, commanded the train and roughly sixty men. The successful completion of the journey opened a trade route between the two Mexican provinces of New Mexico and California.

Following the "longest, crookedest, most arduous pack mule route in the history of America," Armijo's party and others brought woolen goods to Los Angeles and returned to Santa Fe driving herds of valuable mules and horses. Later termed the Old Spanish Trail, this route was the principal means of transportation between the two Mexican territories, until the end of the Mexican War in 1848.

Erected by Southern Nevada Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Cultural Affairs. (Marker Number 141.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Old Spanish National Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1688.

Location. 36° 5.861′ N, 114° 54.277′ W. Marker is near Henderson, Nevada, in Clark County. It is on East Lake Mead Drive (Nevada Route 564) 0.1 miles south of

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Pyrenees Court, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Henderson NV 89015, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mojave Desert

and in Greater Las Vegas.

It is also in the American Southwest

and in the Mountain West.

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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old Spanish Trail (approx. 3.7 miles away); Arrowhead Trail (approx. 7.6 miles away); Bootleg Canyon (approx. 8.2 miles away); McKeeversville, Boulder City's Predecessor (approx. 8.6 miles away); Alunite (approx. 8.6 miles away); Railroad Pass (approx. 8.7 miles away); Boulder City, Nevada (approx. 9 miles away); Hoover Dam Turbine Runner (approx. 9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Henderson.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2010

2. The Old Spanish Trail – Armijo's Route Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, March 16, 2010

3. The Old Spanish Trail – Armijo's Route Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,111 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 28, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.