Raton

Events

Every 4th of July weekend Raton celebrates our nations’ independence with the International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally The 3 day event features food, a balloon glow, and a mass ascension of the more than 30 colorful entries.

History

The Santa Fe Trail blazed through the area in the mid-1800’s. The Trails’ passage through Raton Pass was an arduous five day journey until “Uncle Dick” Wooten, a Virginia-born businessman, blasted out 27 miles of mountain roads to establish a faster toll road. He charged $1.50 for passage, and collected the tolls at the Clifton House, six miles south of today’s Raton.

The DiLisio Building was erected in 1918

The area was known as Willow Springs until 1879, when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF) decided to place their tracks over the steep Raton Pass. They established a division headquarters (with offices and equipment shops), thus giving birth to the town of Raton. The same year, coal was discovered in the area, providing a second economic boon for the fledgling town. Within a year, the population swelled to 3,000. Much of the building boom from the 1880’s through the early 1900’s can still be seen today (see “Culture” below).

Historic Shuler Theater

Culture

The Downtown Walking Tour is a chance to experience the colorful past and captivating architecture of old Raton. Five blocks of historic buildings, including the beautiful Shuler Theater (built in 1915), capture the town as it was between the 1880’s and early 1900’s.

The Raton Museum houses hundreds of artifacts from Raton’s history, from the earliest settlers through the community’s involvement in World War II.

Colfax County Courthouse

The WPA in Raton

The Colfax County Courthouse (230 N. 3rd St.) is an impressive blonde brick structure built by the WPA in 1936. The exterior features relief’s depicting farming, mining, and cattle raising (important area industries), while the interior has an Art Deco flair.

Joseph A. Fleck painted murals in 1936 that were placed in the Raton Post Office (245 Park). The murals are entitled, “The Butterfield Mail” and “Unloading Mail at Raton.” Fleck insisted the murals be placed in Raton because it was a place he loved to visit.

Arthur Johnson Memorial Library

The Arthur Johnson Memorial Library (244 Cook) was built as the town’s original post office during the WPA project. It is also home to a large collection of WPA-era paintings.

An incredible eight panel history of the area was created by Manville Chapman. Covering 50 years (1845-1895), the panels depict buffalo hunts, trapping, stage coaches, and local landmarks. The panels hang in the foyer of the Schuler Theater (132 N. 2nd St.).

For more information on visiting Raton, check out the chamber of commerce website.

Chapman’s WPA Murals in the Shuler Theater

Contact:

Shelly Romero Wood, Manager
Raton MainStreet
P.O. Box 1481
Raton, NM 87740
Phone: 575.445.4978