Old Spanish Trail (Armijo's Route) Las Vegas & Clark County   36.09857, -114.90416

"(#141) In the short amount of time I've driven around Las Vegas Valley the more I am reminded of LA. I'll be honest: it's been years since I've visited Las Vegas, but I wasn't expecting such a tremendous splash of sprawl - cookie-cutters, rancherias, golf courses, and more often than not a shopping center for every ten people! If I needed any more proof that southern Nevada is its own doing the proof is in the manicured lawns, consistent traffic, and the overwhelming urbanization. Unfortunately, markers like these suddenly seem out of place." -- Journal Entry, March 2009

Along Lake Mead Parkway, 1/4 mile west of Lake Mead NRA entrance gate -- Henderson
* See Notes Section *

Original Date Visited: 3/15/09

Signed: No

Notes: Years ago, this location was probably ideal for this marker. However, the unstoppable growth of the Las Vegas Valley puts [141] in danger. As the city encroaches on the valley's outlying areas, places like these become simply cheap real-estate and a new place to call home. In the last image shown below, notice the orange ribbon in the b.g. These are signs of yet another future housing development site ready for the backhoe. Don't be surprised if this marker is removed in the next few years. Only time will tell.

Exact Description:
On January 8, 1830, the first pack train to pass from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Los Angeles crossed Las Vegas Valley. Antonio Armijo, a Santa Fe merchant, commanded the train and its 30 drovers. The successful completion of the journey opened a trade route between the two Mexican provinces of New Mexico and California.

Described as the "longest, crookedest, most arduous pack mule route in the history of America," Armijo's party brought manufactured goods to Los Angeles and returned driving herds of mules and horses. Later termed the Old Spanish Trail, this route was a principal means of reaching the Pacific Coast until the termination of the war with Mexico in 1848.

Bleak views on the outskirts of Henderson, the home of Marker 141

Next Marker:

OLD SPANISH TRAIL (MOUNTAIN SPRINGS PASS)

---

Have you been to this marker? Tell us all about it here!