TownePlace Suites Las Cruces

Southern New Mexico State Fair

by e7forever

New Mexico's 2nd Largest Fair. Usually runs from late September to early October. There are rides, food, music, shows, a midway, rodeo, livestock show and much more. Located at the southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.

Space Murals Museum

by Basaic

Just east of town is the Space Murals Museum. They have a variety of displays about the space program and a water tower with lots of nice murals. There is also a small area for the kids to play. Hours are 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 6 PM on Sunday. Admission is free.

Basaic Las Cruces Page

by Basaic

"The City of Las Cruces"

Las Cruces is the largest city in Southern New Mexico with a population of just under 100,000. It is the county seat of Dona Ana County and was recently voted a top place to retire. The town boasts several nice museums, a number of hotels and restaurants ranging from the fancy and luxurious to those you want to avoid and has a acmpus of the New Mexico State University. It is located near the borders with Texas and Mexico and is at the intersection of Interstate 10 and 25. The Tularosa Basin, which includes the area where Las Cruces is now located has been occupied since about 9000 to 10,000 BC when hunter gatherers came to the area.

"Historic Downtown"

The downtown area has a pretty nice plaza and two main historic Districts: Alameda; and Mesquite. Three of the museums are also located in the downtown area, two on the mall and one about 5 blocks away.

"Other Attractions"

There are two museums on the Univerity Campus (NMSU Museum and the Zuhl Museum); one at the mall (Museum of Natural History); and one on the edge of town (Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum). There is also the historic town of Mesilla on the Western edge of town. The town of Mesilla also include the newest New Mexico State Park Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park which just opened in December 2008.

Please note that the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum restricts any photography for anything other than personal use. I got permission to use these photographs.

"All photographs of the Fram and Ranch Heritage Museum where taken by me and are used with the permission of and courtesy of the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum".

Las Cruces

by ATXtraveler

"History"

More than 150 years ago, United States Army Lt. Delos Bennett Sackett, using rawhide rope and stakes, plotted out 84 city blocks to form what is know today as Las Cruces, New Mexico. Sackett came to the Mesilla Valley from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma during the summer of 1848 with the First Dragoon of Company H. His mission, along with the 87 other soldiers, was to protect small communities from Apache raids. These communities included El Paso (or Paso del Norte) and Do?a Ana, a small village headed by alcalde Don Pablo Melendres.

There are multiple theories as to how Las Cruces got its name. One theory suggests that sometime during the 18th Century, a bishop, a priest, a Mexican Army colonel, a captain, four trappers and four choir boys were attacked near the Rio Grande and only one - a boy - survived. Crosses were erected in their honor, and the name, El Pueblo del Jardin de Las Cruces, (the City of the Garden of Crosses,) evolved.

Other stories say multiple crosses were erected in the area to mark the grave sites of the many victoms of Apache raids. And still another story is that a group of 40 travelers from Taos, NM were killed just as they reach Las Cruces. But some people feel that the name is simply the Spanish translation for "crossing" or "crossroads."