Glorieta Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glorieta Pass |
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Glorieta Battlefield Marker
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| Elevation | 7,500 ft (2,286 m) |
| Traversed by |    I-25 / US 84 / US 85Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway |
| Location | Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States |
| Range | Sangre de Cristo Mountains |
Glorieta Pass is a mountain pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico. It sits at an elevation of 7,500 feet (about 2,286 meters). This pass is very important because it's in a key spot at the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It is located southeast of the city of Santa Fe in Santa Fe County.
Historically, Glorieta Pass was the most direct way to travel through the mountains. It connected the upper Pecos River valley in the east with the upper Rio Grande valley in the west. In the 1800s, it was a vital part of the Santa Fe Trail. This famous trail helped people travel between Santa Fe and the High Plains.
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A Key Location in History
Glorieta Pass has always been a significant pathway. It offered the easiest route through the rugged mountains. This made it a popular choice for travelers and traders for many years.
The Santa Fe Trail
The pass was a crucial part of the Santa Fe Trail. This trail was a major trade route in the 19th century. It connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Glorieta Pass was the westernmost part of this long and important trail.
The Battle of Glorieta Pass
One of the most famous events at Glorieta Pass was a battle during the American Civil War. The Battle of Glorieta Pass happened near here in March 1862. It was a very important fight in the New Mexico campaign.
Stopping the Confederate Army
The battle was a big victory for the Union Army. Soldiers from the Colorado Militia played a key role. Their win stopped the Confederate Army from moving onto the High Plains. It also prevented them from advancing north along the Rocky Mountains. This battle is remembered at Pecos National Historical Park, which is on the east side of the pass. You can even see cannonballs from the battle displayed in the stairwells of the Colorado State Capitol Building!
Modern Travel Through the Pass
Today, Glorieta Pass is still a busy route for travelers. In the 20th century, it became the path for U.S. Highway 84. Later, Interstate 25 was built through the pass. The town of Glorieta is located on the eastern side of the pass.
Railroad History
In 1879, the New Mexico and Southern Pacific Railroad built a railway through Glorieta Pass. This railway later became part of the second transcontinental railroad in North America in March 1881. The New Mexico and Southern Pacific Railroad eventually joined with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. This company used the route for its famous trains, like the El Capitan and the Super Chief, which traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Today, this railway is part of the BNSF Railway system. It is still used by Amtrak's Southwest Chief passenger train. One train goes in each direction every day. Interestingly, Glorieta Pass is one of the last places in the United States where semaphore signals are still used on a major railroad. These old-fashioned signals use arms to show train engineers what to do.
See also
In Spanish: Puerto de la Glorieta para niños
