Watrous (La Junta)

Watrous
Watrous House in 1940
Location U.S. 85, Watrous, New Mexico
Coordinates 35°48′3″N 105°0′5″W / 35.80083°N 105.00139°WCoordinates: 35°48′3″N 105°0′5″W / 35.80083°N 105.00139°W
Area 3,580 acres (14.5 km2)
Built 1835
Architect Unknown
Architectural style Other
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 66000480
NMSRCP # 33
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966[1]
Designated NHLD May 23, 1963[2]
Designated NMSRCP December 20, 1968[3]

Watrous, also named La Junta, is a historic district in New Mexico.

The National Park Service's Statement of Significance for the site (as of designation in 1963) was:

Here, at the settlement of La Junta de los Rios Mara y Sapello, the Mountain and Cimarron Cutoff routes of the Santa Fe Trail joined. Wagon trains organized here before entering hostile Indian territory. In 1879, the Santa Fe Railroad laid out the present town of Watrous to the east.[2]

Trail ruts remain, and the district includes 21 structures:

  1. Fort Union Corral, with stone walls still standing, and
  2. Gregg Tavern-Stage Station.
  3. etc.,

and three cemeteries.[4]

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1963.[2][4]

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Watrous (La Junta)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  3. ↑ "New Mexico State and National Registers". New Mexico Historic Preservation Commission. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Richard Greenwood, with updates by state and national staff (December 18, 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Watrous (La Junta) / La Junta" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying 11 photos, from 1962, 1974, and 1982 PDF (32 KB)

External links