Las Vegas New Mexico Birds Eye View Street Scene 1920 Real Photo Postcard

Las Vegas, New Mexico, originally established as a Spanish land grant in 1835, saw significant development with the opening of the Santa Fe Trail, becoming a vital trading post. Its prosperity dramatically increased with the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1879, transforming it into a major railhead and commercial center for the burgeoning American Southwest. This period marked a rapid expansion, evident in the mix of adobe and Victorian-era architecture seen in such wide-angle views.