For this reason, the Camino Real to New Mexico was called El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro - the Royal Road to the Interior. The majority of Spanish settlements were along the Rio Grande and around their capital city of Santa Fe.Įl Camino Real was the road that connected Spain and Mexico City to the settlements in the interior lands of Nueva España. Present day New Mexico was once part of the Spanish empire and called Nueva España or New Spain. El Camino Real is the oldest and longest used 'highway' in Mexico and the U.S.Ī History of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro.El Camino Real 'died' in 1885 with the arrival of the AT&SF railroad.

New Mexico became a territory of the United States in 1848 and statehood in 1912.El Camino became known as the Chihuahua Trail. The Spanish empire fell in 1821 the region became part of Mexico.Santa Fe was the capitol of New Spain, flying the Spanish flag for over 200 years (1603-1821).Settlement of New Mexico resumed in 1698. The Pueblo Revolt in 1680 caused the Spanish and many settlers to flee.The first Europeans along El Camino Real arrived in New Mexico with the Oñate expedition in 1598, 22 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.Before the Spanish arrived, the Rio Grande Valley in central New Mexico was occupied by Piro People and other Pueblo people.These royal roads ran throughout the Spanish Empire including Mexico to South America, and later to California. El Camino Real means The Royal Road, on which travel was controlled by the King of Spain or his representatives, and thus often called the King's Highway.

El camino real