Eastern New Mexico University

Historical marker location:

US 70, Portales, New Mexico

( in town of Portales)

This University was established at Portales in 1927 by the State Legislature as the Eastern New Mexico Normal School. It opened for the 1934-35 school year with 274 students. Originally established to train teachers for rural schools, Eastern now has a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs to serve the instructional, public service and research needs of the state and the nation.

In the early 1800s, New Mexico became an important center for trade along the Santa Fe Trail, which connected Missouri to Santa Fe. The trail was used by traders, trappers, and settlers to transport goods and supplies across the frontier.