Towns You Should Know in 2009
By: TW Editors 01/01/2009
For more than 400 years, American Indian, Mexican and Spanish cultures have blended in this Texas locale. A major attraction is still Concordia, the largest cemetery in the Southwest and home to famous gunfighters like John Wesley Hardin.
This lake country embodies all corners of history, from an extinct Ice Age volcano, to the first settlers a thousand years ago, to being a favorite stop for weary travelers on the Santa Fe Trail.
FORT SMITH, AR
This town grew up around the first frontier fort established to promote peace between Osages and Cherokees. Fort Smith remains a living representation of 19th-century army life and law enforcement. The Hanging Judge still lurks....
HELENA, MT
From the start, this capital city has carefully preserved its heritage. The state historical society museum dates back to 1865, just a year after gold prospectors found the town. The “Queen City of the Rockies” remains the town that gold built.
Durango’s authentic feel is augmented by local history and railroad museums, ancient cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, the Durango & Silverton Narrow
Gauge Railroad and tours of historic gold mines.
LINCOLN, NM
Made famous by one of the most violent periods in New Mexico’s history, Lincoln is where you can walk in the footsteps of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett; the town hasn’t changed much since they were alive and kicking.
Get off the beaches and check out the Old Town section and the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which was frequented by Wyatt Earp in the 1880s.
SAN ANTONIO, TX
Here lies the Alamo and the start of the Chisholm Trail. Multicultural San Antone also has 22 local historic districts and hundreds of landmark buildings spanning nearly 300 years.
TAOS, NM
This town mixes modern chic with historic art, buildings, museums and landmarks. You’ll remember the views from the 650-feet (above river) Rio Grande Gorge Bridge long after your visit ends.
Named Number One by us last year, St. Jo’s history includes the Pony Express, the death place of Jesse James, the starting point for thousands of pioneers headed West and more than 50 historic registered sites.
GUTHRIE, OK
Within six hours, this prairie grassfield grew into one of the nation’s largest cities west of the Mississippi in 1889. The abundance of late 19th- and early 20th-century commercial architecture is nationally significant.
NORTHFIELD, MN
Northfield truly gives the feel of a Midwest pioneer settlement. Started as a mill town in 1855, the infamous Defeat of Jesse James Days celebration every year is just one reason to visit.
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