1598: El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro connects Mexico and New Mexico.

1743: French trappers reach Santa Fe and begin limited trade with the Spanish.

1807: Zebulon Pike leads first Anglo expedition into New Mexico and publishes account of way of life in New Mexico upon return to U.S.

1821: Mexico declares independence from Spain at the same time Santa Fe Trail opens to international trade.

1828: First major gold discovery in Western U.S. made in Ortiz Mountains south of Santa Fe.

1846: Mexican-American War begins. Stephen Watts Kearny annexes New Mexico to the United States.

1878: The railroad arrives in New Mexico, opening full-scale trade and migration from the East and Midwest.

1918: First plane lands in Santa Fe at an airstrip built by penitentiary inmates, 10 years before Charles Lindbergh flew into town and 40 years before construction of the Santa Fe Municipal Airport.

1927-1937: Route 66 runs through Santa Fe, but later a new Santa Rosa-to-Albuquerque leg bypassed Santa Fe.

2009 The Rail Runner begins commuter-rail service between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.



Adapted from New Mexico Blue Book