New Mexico is a state that’s steeped in history but it’s still hard to imagine how places have changed over time and what life used to be like in the Land of Enchantment. These 16 rare images show what New Mexico’s urban and rural areas once looked like and make it easier to imagine days gone by.
1. In 1914, this is what the town of Mogollon looked like during a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
This image (and several others on this list) came from a 1904 guide to New Mexico called: "The land of sunshine; a handbook of the resources, products, industries and climate of New Mexico."
6. In 1906, UNM assembled its first baseball team.
12. Today, the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell consists of imposing buildings spread across a substantial campus. This is what it looked like in 1904.
13. The Avalon Dam, which spans the Pecos River, is located five miles north of Carlsbad. This image depicts the dam in 1903 - a year later it was washed out during flooding. The United States Bureau of Reclamation constructed the latest version in 1907.
15. Thankfully, the Puye Cliff Dwellings haven’t changed much since 1900, when this photo was taken. This national historic landmark is located within Santa Clara Pueblo, close to Espanola.
