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New Mexico, which became part of the United States in 1912, has fueled the imaginations of travelers before and since. An essential part of the American Southwest, the state's history and mix of cultures involved Native American, Spanish colonial, and European influences. If New Mexico's large cities, like Santa Fe and Albuquerque, are well-known to travelers, can its smaller towns offer something of their own, too? The state's diverse places and peoples have left their mark in everything from the various origins of the town names here, to the traditions that are rooted in the past but remain vibrant, or at least resurgent, in modern times. For a look at New Mexico's underrated towns, these places offer a suggestion of how dynamic, and under-appreciated, parts of this state can be.  

Tucumcari

Tucumcari, population 5,100, boasts a unique historic district that has sustained enthusiastic reviews for generations. Located in northeastern New Mexico, and easily accessible given its position on Interstate 40, the town holds a clutch of museums and other points of interest for the traveling history buff. The town's Main Street features numerous old structures still in use today, including the Odeon Theatre from 1937 and the Tucumcari Railroad Musuem, housed in a former rail station first built in 1926. The Mesalands Dinosaur Museum is an obvious draw for tourists with children. Finally, for the traveling spirit in all of us, the town's Route 66 Monument offers a fitting tribute to America's "Mother Road." 

Chimayo

Chimayo, with a modest 3,200 inhabitants, lies north of Sante Fe in north-central New Mexico. Its small size belies an outsized reputation among Catholic and other spiritual travelers. The town's name comes from the phrase "Tsi Mayoh," the name of a local hill in the Tewa tribal language. Some adepts of the Catholic branch of Christianity call the town the "Lourdes of America," a reference to the French town and major pilgrimage site of the same name. Chimayo earned its reputation as a place to visit following the 1816 construction of the chapel called El Santuario de Chimayo. According to tradition, dirt from one of the chapel's rooms holds healing power, and the chapel today draws about 300,000 Catholic pilgrims each year. The chapel is included on the National Register of Historic Places. In other cultural strong points, Chimayo is a center of Hispanic weaving traditions. The town is also known for the Chimayo chili pepper, a famous vegetable that is now the target of important revitalization efforts. The Chimayo Preservation Association runs the Chimayo Museum, where travelers can learn more about the town and surrounding region's vibrant cultural histories. 

Raton

Tucked into the northeast corner of New Mexico near its border with Colorado, the small town of Raton, with just under 6,000 inhabitants, makes for a picturesque little stop on the way in our out of the state. Its name is fitting for a town of its modest size: the word Raton is Spanish for "mouse." The town is a natural choice for outdoors lovers, given its wealth of urban and rural parks, such as Climax Canyon Park, the downtown Roundhouse Memorial Park, and Sugarite Canyon State Park just northeast of town. The latter park offers great options for fishing in Lake Maloya and Alice Lake, not to mention horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. Visitors can even get to Raton without a car: the US rail company Amtrak stops in town as a part of its Southwest Chief service between Los Angeles and Chicago. 

Roswell

The southeastern town of Roswell, population 47,400, ranks among the largest of New Mexico's underrated towns. A hub for agriculture, aerospace, and fossil fuel production, the town's proximity to green spaces like Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Bottomless Lakes State Park means that there is something here for everyone. Yet the town's largest claim to fame is also its strangest: the town has become a mecca for visitors seeking information about the Roswell Incident when in 1947 an alleged alien spacecraft crashed in the area. Roswell's alien- and space-related tourism industry has swelled since then, as embodied by the town's International UFO Museum and Research Center.  

Taos

With 6,400 inhabitants, the north-central Taos offers New Mexico history, and especially culture, on a modest scale. It is famous as the historical center of the Taos Pueblo, a Native American living complex and community that features distinctive adobe constructions. Today, the site's traditional architecture enjoys recognition as a UNESCO º£½ÇÉçÇø Heritage Site. Nature enthusiasts can visit the site in the morning and head for a hike in the Sangre de Cristo mountains to Taos' east. The town's history in the Spanish colonial era lies on full display at the Hacienda de los Martinez Museum, another adobe building first erected in 1804. Fans of more modern creative forms should seek out the Harwood Museum of Art, as well as the Taos Art Museum at Fechim House. The American painter Georgia O'Keeffe, who some critics consider the "Mother of American Modernism," made repeated visits to Taos to paint and live among the town's other artists. 

Los Alamos

Los Alamos, population 19,200, owes its founding to º£½ÇÉçÇø War II and the twentieth-century arms race. The town was remembered, most recently, in the 2023 film "Oppenheimer," based on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who led the development of the atomic bomb — the first nuclear weapon in history — from this small town. Film fans and amateur historians can explore the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, the Los Alamos History Museum, and the Bradley Science Museum to learn how the atomic bomb was developed, tested, and proven here during the 1940s. Another location for lovers of (ancient) history, as well as fresh-air seekers, is the Bandelier National Monument, which offers breathtaking canyons and sheds light on 11,000-year-old local human settlements. Near to Los Alamos is the Valles Caldera Natural Preserve, one of America's newest additions to its national park system. 

Silver City

Located in the state's southwest, Silver City, with 9,500 residents, derives its name from the mineral boom that brought thousands to the state in the 1870's and later to seek their fortune. The town combines Western history, like outlaws and homesteaders, with a more modern creative spirit, like its northern counterpart Taos. Among its downtown attractions, the Silco Theater, first built in 1923, underwent a recent renovation and has operated as a movie house since 2016. Writers and musicians, and their fans, know Silver City from the town's blues and folk music celebrations, as well as the Southwest Festival of the Written Word, more recently known as the Southwest Word Fiesta. The town remains a center of culture for the Apache and other Native American communities. Silver City's downtown also includes the Grant County Art Guild Gallery, which highlights local artists' work, as well as the Silver City Museum. Nature enthusiasts can head to the nearby Gila National Forest, a massive preserve with hiking, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks.

Conclusion: A state rich in culture, history, and future promise

New Mexico's towns provide a rich menu of compelling places for the traveler to see and explore. Nature lovers will enjoy the state's local, state, and national parks. Fans of industrial and migration history have much to appreciate in the stories from Tucumcari, Los Alamos, and Silver City. Cultural connoisseurs, for their part, can make repeat visits, like legendary painter Georgia O'Keeffe did, to the state's abundant natural and creative attractions. Even firm believers in life beyond Earth can develop their views among like minds at Roswell and elsewhere. With so much to check out, travelers to New Mexico's underrated towns make find their toughest challenge in deciding which places not to visit.