El Camino Real International Heritage Center

El Camino Real International Heritage Center

El Camino Real International Heritage Center is one of New Mexico's newest state monuments, dedicated in November 2005.

El Camino Real is the oldest, and longest continuously used "highway," in the country, bringing European colonists to "New Spain" (New Mexico) beginning 22 years before the Mayflower landed. It is a designated National Historic Trail.

Technically any road under the direct jurisdiction of the Spanish crown and its viceroys was a "camino real." Examples of such roads ran between principal settlements throughout Spain and its colonies, including New Spain. After Mexico won its independence from Spain, roads in Mexico gave up the camino real distinction. The name was rarely used after that and was only revived in the American period in connection with the Mission Revival movement of the early 20th century.

El Camino Real International Heritage Center
30 miles south of Socorro, New Mexico on I-25, or about half-way between Socorro and Truth or Consequences. It is just a 5 minute drive east of I-25 at Exit 115 for easy on and off while traveling.
Phone: (575) 854-3600
www.caminorealheritage.org/