Las Nutrias

Historical marker location:

NM Highway 304, Bernado vicinity, New Mexico

( Northeast of Bernardo)

During the late 17th century, this area had become well known to the Spanish. Called La Vega de Las Nutrias, or meadow of the beavers, it was a welcome paraje, or stopping place, for caravans on the Camino Real. Eighteenth century attempts at settlement in this region failed, but by 1860 the current village had been established and a church had been built by the new settlers.

New Mexico played a significant role in the American Civil War, with Union and Confederate forces fighting several battles in the territory. The most famous of these was the Battle of Glorieta Pass in 1862, which ended Confederate hopes of capturing the Southwest.