The Founding of Albuquerque

The first Spanish settlement in the Rio Grande Valley was an orchard by Diego de Trujillo in 1632. The orchard was on the present site of Albuquerque Old Town. The Spanish settlements in the Albuquerque New Mexico area grew to 20 estancias and ranchos.

Religious intolerance, forced labor and levies of food and weavings led the Pueblo Indians to rise in revolt against Spanish missionaries and colonists in 1680. The Rio Grande Valley remained under the control of the Pueblo Indians till Spanish colonists reconquered the Valley in the early 18th century.

In 1706 Governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdez founded an administrative center in the Rio Grande Valley at the site of Diego de Trujillo orchard. Cuervo notified the King of Spain and the Viceroy who precided over New Spain - New Mexico, Arizona and parts of Mexico - that he had founded the Villa de San Francisco de Albuquerque. Cuervo named The City of Albuquerque the Viceroy, Francisco de la Cueva Enriquez. Enriquez. The Viceroy was now also known as the Duke of Albuquerque.

However, Cuervo did not follow the official rules and regulations. The King nor the Viceroy were pleased. The King did sent Cuervo back to Mexico City and appointed Jose Chacon Medina Salazar Governor of New Mexico.

Albuquerque Today

Albuquerque New Mexico is being singled out as both the number-one 'Best Place to Do Business in America' by Forbes, June 2006, and the number-three placeholder in the '50 Smart Places to Live' by Kiplinger Personal Finance, June 2006.

Albuquerque has several very popular neighborhoods. Nob Hill and Four Hills are areas that have received high ranks for its historic housing, trendy shops and fine galleries. Old Town is famous for its location along historic Route 66. Old Town boasts high-end restaurants, historic buildings, musea, cinemas and shops. Old Town has long been considered the trade center for SouthWest crafts. North West Heights covers the area between Central Avenue and Paseo Del Norte bordering the Rio Grande. The area includes the Rio Grande Valley State Park, a 4,500 acres oasis - perfect for wildlife sighting and various recreations such as hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Rio Rancho is home to the Isotopes and boasts a dirt-bike arena.

Albuquerque has ample opportunities to try your luck in casinos and at the race track. Dancing Eagle Casino offers slot machines, video poker, craps, roulette and blackjack. Great cash and prize give-aways. A marvelous restaurant features South Western cuisine. Isleta Casino offers video poker and slot machines, blackjack, roulette poker and bingo. The casino is famous for organizing concerts, special events and boxing. For the hungry there are 5 restaurants. Sandia Casino offers slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette and bingo. San Felipe Casino is located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, Shotgun, video games, restaurants and entertainment. Santa Ana Star Casino is in a friendly southwestern setting featuring slots, roulette, poker, Let-it-Ride, craps and blackjack, with the most liberal rules in New Mexico. Sky City Casino west of Albuquerque offers slots, roulette, poker, craps, bingo and blackjack. With restaurant, shopping, hotel and conference center. The Downs at Albuquerque with quarter horse and thoroughbred racing during spring and during the New Mexico State Fair in September. Open year round with simulcast racing and slot machines.

Albuquerque is ideal for history and cultural buffs due to its diverse cultures existing and mixed in one of th most beautiful cities of New Mexico. Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Traces the origins, spoken traditions, art, craftsmanship, and the cultural development of the Pueblo peoples. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science offers virtual tours of dinosaurs, fossils, mammals, and plants. This interactive, high-tech museum focuses on the natural history of New Mexico and the Southwest from the formation of the universe to the present day. Albuquerque Museum exhibits contemporary arts by local, national and international artists. National Hispanic Cultural Center celebrates the colorful Hispanic lifeways from throughout the world. Petroglyph National Monument is a must see with more than 20,000 prehistoric and historical American Indian and Spanish petroglyphs carved in rock over the course of 12,000 years.

Albuquerque is world-wide recognized for its Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It is the most photographed event in the world. Close to 800,000 beautiful crafted hot-air balloons take the air every year in October for a full week Fiesta Fun. Route 66 is another tourist catcher. Take a day-time or night-time neon tour along old Route 66 in Albuquerque. Sandia Peak Tramway is the longest Tramway in the world, a 2.7 mile ride up 5,000 feet with a breathtaking view of deserts and mountain forests alike.

The Albuquerque Aquarium, a Gulf of Mexico habitat featuring shoreline, surf and a deep ocean tank where you'll see birds, fish, lobsters, moray eels, jellyfish and sharks. The Rio Grande Botanic Garden, a symphony of color, texture, scent and sound with fountains, the formal Old World displays, demonstration gardens, a medicinal plants garden and desert and Mediterranean plants.The Rio Grande Zoo, over one thousand animals of exotic and native species.

This is not all. Golf, shopping, atrractions, dining and so much more to do and to see in and around Albuquerque New Mexico.

For Albuquerque activities, restaurants, shops and events schedule visit www.abqthemag.com

For Albuquerque museums visit www.newmexicoculure.org

Drop us a line info@travelingnewmexico.com or call 1877-466-2734