Montezuma, New Mexico
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Montezuma is an unincorporated community in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. It is located about five miles northwest of the city of Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The town was best known for many years for its natural hot springs, and was in fact called "Las Vegas Hot Springs" until the early 20th century.
The town consists of ranches, a post office, and the United World College-USA.
[edit] History
Prehistorically, native americans valued the hot springs and regarded them therapeutically.[1] In 1846, after the territory of New Mexico was conquered by the U.S. Army and taken from Mexico, a military hospital was established near the hot springs.[1] This was converted into a hotel in 1862, and replaced by a stone building called "the old stone hotel" in 1879[1]. This building remains extant and is used as an administration building by the United World College- USA.
In 1882, the Achison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad built the first of three large hotels on the site. It burned down, as did a much grander stone replacement. The final replacement, constructed in 1886, remains, and has been designated a "national treasure."
[edit] Geography
The community lies along the Gallinas river, in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. It is only a few miles from Hermit's Peak.
[edit] References
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