I wanted to visit Southwestern New Mexico because it history is directly connected to that of Southern Arizona. No where is this connection more evident than the old town of Mesilla, New Mexico.
At La Placita in Downtown Tucson is a gazebo and a historical plaque that says this is the site of La Plaza de la Mesilla. While few Tucsonans know this, it is an important stop on Southern Arizona Guide’s Tucson History & Libation Walking Tour. This plaza, currently being renovated, is sometimes referred to as “Church Plaza” because it was directly in front of Tucson’s first Catholic cathedral, The plaza was an important gathering place for locals and was the site of the annual La Fiesta de San Agustin, a rowdy, mostly secular affair. Once Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate came here to fleece the local gamblers.
Tucson’s Plaza de la Mesilla was the terminus of the old road from Mesilla, New Mexico. This road connected Tucson with important eastern settlements, such as El Paso and Santa Fe. At Tucson, the old Mesilla road joined Tucson’s other important highway, La Calle Real (The Royal Road), which later became Main Avenue through Downtown.
Like Tucson, Mesilla was first a Spanish outpost, then a Mexican village, then part of the United States with the 1854 Gadsden Purchase. And, like Tucson, the hardy residents of Mesilla faced the same threats to their survival: a hostile landscape occupied by even more hostile Apaches.
And yet again, both Mesilla and Tucson were claimed and occupied by the Confederate States of America in early 1862. For this part of the story, read How Tucson Became the Confederate Capitol of Arizona Territory.
Our first stop after arriving in Mesilla was this little wine shop a few steps from La Plaza. They claim to sell only New Mexico wines. As we are very familiar with Southern Arizona wines because of our frequent tours to Sonoita and Elgin, we wanted to sample some of our neighbor’s vino. Besides, we had just traveled all the way from Silver City (2 hour drive) and were thirsty.
Clearly, New Mexican wines taste different than Southern Arizona wines. Not bad, just different. We were particularly impressed with Tighty Whitey and brought a bottle home.
Another historical connection between Mesilla and Tucson is both were important stations for the Butterfield Overland Mail Company. The Tucson station no longer exists. It was located less than 100 yards west of the present-day Tucson City Hall. But at Mesilla, the building not only stands, but is now La Posta Restaurant. We were there on a Sunday and the place was packed.
We ended up having a light lunch on the patio at Josephina’s. That is where Ms. Karen captured this image of a very old couple, still in love and holding hands after who knows how many decades together. We just thought it was touching and wanted to share.
City of Rocks
City of Rocks State Park is located about a 50 minute drive south of Silver City. To get to Mesilla, we had to drive within a few miles of it. Said another way, City of Rocks is about half way between Silver City and Deming, NM.
Friends advised us not to miss this surreal landscape formed by volcanic action 35 million years ago followed by millions of years of erosion.
I had seen City of Rocks photographs when planning this trip, so I knew that if we were going to photograph these formations, I wanted to do it either in the early morning or the late afternoon for maximum dramatic effect. Both coming and going, we passed by the turnoff in mid-day and elected not to bother. Perhaps another time.
City of Rocks is a New Mexico State Park. It has a visitor center and a campground with hot water showers. Nice. They also offer nature programs and a night sky viewing program. If you go, send us a post card.
