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ATTRACTIONS

Historic Homes & Buildings

  • Dorsey Mansion (circa 1880)
    Just Off the Santa Fe Trail in Colfax County
    505-374-9253
    The Dorsey Mansion at Chico Spring is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The elegant mansion consists of 36 rooms (10,000 square feet). Surrounding the mansion are the remains of a unique combination smoke house and greenhouse (believed to be the first in New Mexico), a large stone fountain with carved gargoyles, a smaller ornate cast iron three-tiered fountain and a large pool with three islands in the middle on which there is a gazebo.

Historic Sites & Monuments

  • Dry Cimmaron
    505-374-9253
    The trail along the Cimarron River was one of the routes west for wagon trains of early settlers. Step back in history by taking the Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway in Union and Colfax counties. This trip may be taken in one pack-filled day or two leisurely days. This is an excellent trip to take with children, with many ingredients to make the trip educational, fun, and moderately priced. A child can see actual Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts, wander through an old mining camp, see dinosaur tracks and walk into the crater of a volcano.

  • Folsom
    505-374-9253
    When the Denver, Texas and Ft. Worth Railroad was finished in 1888, the construction camp of Ragtown became Folsom in honor of Frances Folsom, who married President Cleveland in the White House. The Folsom Museum, organized in April 1966 to preserve history and artifacts of the area, is housed in the historic Doherty Building, built in 1896 on the mail street of Folsom.

  • Rabbit Ear Mountain
    505-374-9253
    The first caravan on it’s way from the Missouri River to Santa Fe learned the name of this mountain, OHEJAS de CONEJOS (Rabbit Ears) from the Indians. It is believed that two great battles were fought here more than two hundred years ago.

  • Santa Fe Trail
    Northeast New Mexico is a history lesson of what happens when two empires meet. The older north-south Spanish Empire ended in Santa Fe and the younger, brasher east-west American Empire reached no further than Independence, Missouri. A grand 600-mile prairie lay in between, with mountains to pass and rivers to ford. Wagon after wagon would follow the Santa Fe Trail, leaving a legacy of tracks that can still be seen today.

Libraries & Research Centers

Museums & Galleries

  • Herzstein Memorial Museum
    Corner of Second and Walnut Streets
    505-374-2977
    Contains a display of antiques & artifacts which have been given or loaned by the many people interested in preserving the history and heritage of Union County. Other displays feature the Santa Fe Trail, dinosaurs, family memorabilia and many other interesting themes. The museum is on the State Register of Historic Places. more...

National Parks & Natural Wonders

  • Capulin Volcano
    505-374-9253
    This natural wonder tops the must-see list for most tourists in Northeast New Mexico. Drive 58 miles west of Clayton on Highway 64 and 87 to the town of Capulin, then three miles north on Highway 325 to Capulin Volcano National Monument. The park has picnic areas at the western base of the volcano with water and modern restrooms.

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