Colfax County
NM Hwy 21 - Cimarron
Rayado, New Mexico 87714
LATITUDE: N36 21.933
LONGITUDE: W104 55.803
Historical Significance
The Daughters of the American Revolution marked the Santa Fe Trail and a marker sits at entrance to the building. The Santa Fe Trail came via this route in the early 1850s.
Rayado was founded by Kit Carson who first built a cabin here about 1845. Others came and ran cattle, mined for ore and traveled back and forth on the trail. Known as part of the mountain route, it joins the alternate or Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail. Later a mansion was built by Lucian Maxwell and they purchased the land grant known as Maxwell. The remodeled Kit Carson home is now a museum and houses artifacts from the area and the Santa Fe Trail. The property is part of the Rayado Historic District.
Historical Designations
- State/County: State Historical Commission
- Other: Rayado Historic District
Historical Marker
- Marker Date: c 1910
- State of Marker Organization: New Mexico
- Marker Organization: Daughters of the American Revolution
- Marker Text:
Santa Fe Trail (via Bent's Fort) 1822-1879
Marked by the
Daughters of the
American Revolution
and the Territory of New Mexico 1910
Funding
The marker was originally funded by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1910 and in 1994 some steps were taken to locate them and do some minor repairs. Made from Salida granite to survive the weather and withstand time. New Mexico's Daughters have worked on these markers since 1910.
Physical Condition
- Property: Preserve
Tourism
- Open to Public
- Family Friendly
Promotional Materials Available
Website Link: https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/museums/rayado/