A quiet bedroom community south of Albuquerque, this little railroad town has some great claims to fame.
From the Harvey House – currently a museum – to the plaza, Belen has served as the backdrop for countless Hollywood movies making it a great place to explore.
- Belen, NM -
Posts: 7
Abo Pass Trail Scenic Byway
Central Region: Belen
The Abo Pass Trail Scenic Byway (31 miles; N.M. 47 and U.S. 60) connects the El Camino Real National Scenic Byway and the Salt Missions Trail Scenic Byway. Start your journey in Belen, settled as a farming and railroad community in the Rio Grande Valley. Traveling southeast, the road crosses Read more…
Belen Hotel
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1910. The Belen Hotel was quickly built to accommodate the surging railroad business enabled by the rerouting of the major Santa Fe Railroad train traffic through Clovis and the so-called Belen cut-off. The building was purchased over a decade ago by famed artist Judy Chicago and her husband Donald Read more…
Belen Railroad Depot & Harvey House Museum
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1909. The construction of the Belen cut-off railroad line through central New Mexico in 1907 was a great boon for the village of Belen. Within two years, the Santa Fe Railroad constructed a handsome depot and Harvey Hotel in the familiar Mission Revival style. Today, the Harvey House has Read more…
Central Hotel
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1915. The Central Hotel is similar in architectural style and construction to its more substantial neighbor across the street, the Belen Hotel. The Central also thrived on the heavy railroad commerce ushered into Belen by the Santa Fe railroad after the Belen Cut-off was completed in 1907. The Central Read more…
Old Belen City Hall
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1937. The original Belen City Hall was completed by the WPA in 1937. The building still belongs to the city, but is no longer in use. With assistance from New Mexico MainStreet, Belen MainStreet recently completed a Facade Squad on the building, painting and repairing the exterior of the Read more…
Onate Theater
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1932. The Onate Theater opened in 1932 with a seating capacity of 600 patrons. Named for the original Spanish colonizer of New Mexico, the Onate served as Belen’s main cinema until it was closed in the early 1990s. Local entrepreneur Anthony Baca purchased the theater in 1993 and converted Read more…
Soldiers’ Memorial Park (9/11 Memorial)
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 2011. The Soldiers’ Memorial Park was constructed to remember the firefighters and police officers that were killed during the initial response, and the fallen warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice post 9/11. The park contains a “Freedom Wall” with the names of fallen soldiers from New Mexico – or Read more…