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 Belén, settled as a farming and railroad community in the Rio Grande Valley. Traveling southeast, the road crosses Read more…
Belén Hotel
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1910. The Belén 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 Belén cut-off. The building was purchased over a decade ago by famed artist Judy Chicago and her husband Donald Read more…
Belén Railroad Depot & Harvey House Museum
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1909. The construction of the Belén cut-off railroad line through central New Mexico in 1907 was a great boon for the village of Belén. 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 Belén Hotel. The Central also thrived on the heavy railroad commerce ushered into Belén by the Santa Fe railroad after the Belén Cut-off was completed in 1907. The Central Read more…
Old Belén City Hall
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1937. The original Belén 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, Belén MainStreet recently completed a Facade Squad on the building, painting and repairing the exterior of the Read more…
Oñate Theater
Central Region: Belen
Constructed 1932. The Oñate Theater opened in 1932 with a seating capacity of 600 patrons. Named for the original Spanish colonizer of New Mexico, the Oñate served as Belén’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…