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Mesilla is the primary visitor destination in the region. The soul and character of this picturesque village, with its scenic plaza and ageless adobe homes, are reflected in its history. Events of the 18th and 19th centuries were instrumental to the development of the area and the West.
In the 1880s Mesilla was a lively social center and attracted its share of “Wild West characters.” The most notorious was Billy the Kid, who was tried and sentenced to hang in 1881.
Many of Mesillašs buildings date to the mid-1800s. In 1854, the Gadsden Purchase, signed in the Plaza, officially made Mesilla a part of the United States.
The Butterfield Overland Mail and Stage was established in 1858 and Mesilla was the regional headquarters. It became a well-known place of respite for travelers along the trail line between San Antonio and San Diego.
The plaza and connecting streets frame San Albino Church, built in 1908. One of New Mexicošs most beautiful churches, San Albino is the heart of community life, now as in the past.
Numerous events and fiestas are held on the plaza throughout the year: Cinco de Mayo (fifth of May), 16th of September, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Christmas luminarias. There is a mercado twice weekly and it is often the site for impromptu musical performances.
Old Mesilla has retained its charm of the past while presently offering unparalleled shopping and dining along with galleries and museums.
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