Photos of the Heritage Center

Entrance to El Camino Real International Heritage Center. The flags are those of Spain, Mexico and the United States, the countries with historic ties to the trail, and New Mexico and Texas, the states the trail travels in the United States, making El Camino Real truly international.

 

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About the building: The wagon caravans, traveling the trail over the flat desert expanse of the Jornada del Muerto, were often described as looking like ships on the ocean. The Visitor's Center building was designed to be that ship that takes the visitor along El Camino Real. The entrance is the gangway to the ship; the building interior to appear somewhat like a cruise ship, entering along the promenade deck to a stairway to the main deck. Outside the building, to the east, is the ampitheater, overlooking the vast Jornada del Muerto, as if standing on the bow of a ship, complete with a bow mast and observation deck.

The red brick patio overlooks the Jornada del Muerto.

The outdoor ampitheater overlooks the Jornada del Muerto. It is used for demonstrations, theatrical presentations, group lectures, and other activities.

The bow mast symbolizes the front, or bow, of the ship.

The bow mast and observation deck as seen from below the Center.

The south side of the Visitor's Center, bow mast and observation deck, looking east across the Jornada del Muerto.

The Fra Cristobal Mountain, so named for the likeness of a friar who died at the paraje in 1599.

Detail showing the beard, nose, eyes and face of the sleeping friar as seen by the early Spanish explorers.

Night time of the bow mast at the Center.

El Camino Real International Heritage Center often gets requests for photos of the Center and the trail by individuals, school teachers, researchers, and the news media.  New photos will be added when they become available. If used in a publication, please credit "El Camino Real IHC" or as otherwise shown.

Excellent night-time shots of El Camino Real International Heritage Center.  These photos are courtesy of photographer and amateur astronomer Drew Medlin, taken during the 2007 Enchanted Skies Star Party.