From ancient times, Indigenous people groups have mined for precious minerals in central New Mexico. Some mines in the vicinity of Cerrillos can even be considered the oldest in the country! Naturally, these mines have continued to attract prospectors and miners hoping to try their luck, leaving behind a history rich in material wealth and its own unique culture.

Leading from Santa Fe south through Cerrillos, Golden, and other communities east of the Sandia Mountains, the Turquoise Trail is the name for the road connecting these important mining districts. Explore an abundance of historical images covering these communities and the unique culture that rose and fell with the fortunes of these mines.

By Laurie Evans Frantz. Arcadia Publishing, 2013. Paperback, 127 pages.