SANTA FE, NM – February 17, 2015 – All Trails Lead to Santa Fe, a conference taking place September 17–20, 2015, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, will explore the history of the three trails that intersected in Santa Fe to create the foundations of today’s Southwest. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro was the only north-south route between New Mexico and Mexico from 1598 through the end of the nineteenth century. In 1821, the Camino Real was joined by the Santa Fe Trail from Missouri, connecting the eastern United States with the Southwest and Mexico. In 1829, the Old Spanish Trail opened an overland trade route to Los Angeles from Santa Fe, extending the network of trails to the Pacific.
All Trails Lead to Santa Fe, based at the Convention Center in the 400-year-old capital, will include presentations by historians Rick Hendricks and Marc Simmons, panel discussions, curated bus tours of trail sites and a variety of evening entertainment. Scholars, historians, trail enthusiasts and the general public are invited to attend. Complete information is available at www.3TrailsConferenceSantaFe.org.
Conference organizers are the non-profit support groups for these three National Historic Trails: El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Trail Association (CARTA), the Santa Fe Trail Association (SFTA), and the Old Spanish Trail Association (OSTA).
About National Historic Trails
The United States Congress established the National Trails System in 1968 and designated the first national trails. National Historic Trails are extended trails that closely follow a historic trail or route of travel of national significance. Designation identifies and protects historic routes, historic remnants, and artifacts for public use and enjoyment. The 19 current National Historic Trails “follow as closely as possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national historical significance.”
In 1987, Congress authorized 1,203 miles of the Santa Fe Trail as a National Historic Trail, www.nps.gov/safe. El Camino Real’s 404 miles were authorized as a National Historic Trail in 2000, www.nps.gov/elca, and in 2002, Congress authorized the 2,700 miles of the Old Spanish Trail as a National Historic Trail, www.nps.gov/olsp.
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The New Mexico State Library and Department of Cultural Affairs are supporters of the All Trails Lead to Santa Fe Conference. Libraries: Want to help promote the conference at your library? Download and post this flyer!