Mesilla Travel Guide

 toonsarah Says:  Strolling the streets around the Plaza is the number one activity here. Many of the adobe buildings built during the colonial era remain today, and most have been converted into interesting shops, galleries and restaurants, but the district retains a lot of its character and... 

 toonsarah Says:  The north side of the Plaza is dominated by the Basilica of San Albino. The first church in the town had been a small log and mud construction on the south side, but when the town was transferred from Mexico to the United States as part of the Gadsden Purchase, it began to... 

 Basaic Says:  The Fountain Theater was built in 1905 for Albert Jennings Fountain and is the oldest movie thetaer in New Mexico. In those days, in addition to films the theater offered vaudeville performances often including Fountain and his family. Fountain is also known for his famous... 

 Basaic Says:  Another building of significance on the old plaza is the old courthouse building. Billy the Kid stood trial here in 1881 and was sentenced to hang. He escpaed and killed his jailers though while en route back to Lincoln County. The building now houses the Billy the Kid Gift... 

 Basaic Says:  The most important and most noticable building around the square is the San Albino Basilica which was built in 1851. San Albino just achieved basilica status in November 2008. Basilica status means San Albino is of historical and spiritual significance. 

 Basaic Says:  The Mesilla Valley, which includes Mesilla, has a long history of habitation by man. Hunter/gatherers came here 9000 years ago. More recently, in 1598 the Spaniards came here and established the Camino Real (Royal Highway). The first real permanent settlers came in 1848... 

 Basaic Says:  Your first stop in Mesilla should be the large, new Visitors Center. Here you will find brochures, maps and other information so you can decide what you want to see and make your trip more enjoyable. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. 

 Basaic Says:  The Gadsden Museum is fairly well known and is publicized; but I had never heard of the Casasola Museum and did not even know it existed. I spotted it as I came out of the Visitors Center. The museum was having a special exhibition of old photographs from the time of the... 

 Basaic Says:  The Gadsden Museum is named for the Gadsden Purchase which made the town part of the United States after it had been a part of Mexico for a number of years. The museum is located in the old A. J. Fountain home and contains Native American and Spanish artifacts from the early... 

 Basaic Says:  The main trail lead you by two constructed wetlands created through a restoration project run by the Southwest Environmental Center and the city of Las Cruces. These wetlands were then replanted with plants native to the area, and provide both open water and marsh habitats.... 

 Basaic Says:  You will mostly just hear the bullfrogs and some of the birds, other birds you will see at a distance and you would need a better camera than mine to photograph them. You may get a better view of the birds if you sit on the bench for a while. Mostly I just saw them at a... 

 toonsarah Says:  We were keen to find somewhere nice in Mesilla for our final meal of the trip, and at first tried La Posta which gets good reviews. But not only would we have had to wait for a table, we were also put off by the rather over-touristy, over-gimicky décor, and I objected to the... 

 toonsarah Says:  When travelling in the US I am always on the lookout for a good cup of coffee, especially at breakfast time. I spotted The Bean in our Moon New Mexico Handbook and was pleased to see that it was just down the road from our accommodation at the Meson de Mesilla. It sounded... 

 Basaic Says:  This building is the only intact stop along the Butterfield Stage Route. It now houses La Posta de Mesilla. If you can only go to one restaurant in town, go here. They have great steaks and Mexican food and the best selection of Margaritas and Tequila around. Hours:... 

 Basaic Says:  The building housing El Patio Cantina has been around since the mid-1800s. It has been a cantina run by the descendants of A. J. Fountain since 1934. Previously the building housed offices for the Butterfield Stage Line and various newspapers. Today it is a very popular spot...