Socorro, New Mexico

The last time I was forced to visit Socorro I was in no position to appreciate its history and culture.  Edie did a little research and led me on a regional history tour.  We started out with a visit to the El Camino Real International Heritage Center south of town.  The El Camino Real or Royal Road was the equivalent of our interstates.  Starting in the 1500's and lasting for 300 years this was the trail through which materials, people, and culture passed between Mexico and New Mexico.  The center stands at the edge of the Jornada del Muerto-the Journey of Death-which was a 100 mile stretch of waterless trail.

The Original Hilton Hotel in San Antonio?
The Owl Bar and Cafe is now known for some of the best green chili burgers (if you don't like "hot" get your green chili on the side like Edie did) but it's bar is actually from the original Hilton Hotel which was down the street.  Conrad Hilton, founder of the great chain, was born in San Antonio, New Mexico, a one-light intersection town.  His parents turned their home into a hotel and store for travelers.  It is not known if Paris Hilton has ever visited.  It didn't seem like her kind of place.

The Juan Jose Baca House

Built in the 1840's by Juan Jose Baca as a residence and store it is now the Stage Door Grill serving great meals at great prices.  We had the fish tacos which turned out to be a delicious choice:

One of the most notorious gunman in old West history, Elfego Baca, started out as a clerk at this store.  His reputation as a gunman was so great that as a law officer, he often only had to send a message to miscreants that he felt justified shooting them on sight if they didn't turn themselves in.  Many meekly did just that.  He was featured in a 1958 Disney Productions called the "Nine Lives of Elfego Baca".

Socorro "Wheel of History", begins in 1598 and tell the history of the town.