Alamogordo is located in the southeast of the state of New Mexico, and the Spanish name of the city can be translated as "thick poplar". The town began as a small village of farmers and ranchers, and that would not have happened, do not build a railroad here. But everything changed at once, when in 1945 the first atomic bomb exploded in White Sands. With this in mind, the city's official motto - "the friendliest place on earth" - sounds a bit ambiguous

How to get to Alamogordo

It's easy to get to the city by car on several highways - for example, from El Paso. The nearest international airport is located exactly there, about 150 km to the south. In addition, the city buses run Greyhound. But the train, oddly enough, to Alamogordo not reached, despite the fact that the railway line is laid long ago.

A bit of history

The first people on the site Alamogordo settled at least 11 thousand . years ago. The present settlement was founded in 1898 and received the status of the city in 1912. Tourism began to develop in Alamogordo since the 30's. 20 century, after the formation of the national monument White Sands. And in the 1950-1960's. the city became an unofficial center for research in the field of flight security and the US space program.

Entertainment, tours and attractions Alamogordo

Most tourists coming to Alamogordo, eager to see the location of Trinity test, where the July 16, 1945 The bomb was blown up. You can come here with an organized tour, but only 2 days a year: on the first Sunday of April and October. Excursion is sent early in the morning

The New Mexico Space History Museum is located on Highway, 2001 . This is a surprisingly large complex of museums and expositions, including the International Space Hall of Fame . Among the exhibits of the museum is a piece stone from the moon, the shuttle model and rovers and a full-size copy of a suborbital space plane Sraceship the one . On the territory of the museum is also undeveloped exhibition area where you can see a solar panel number 1 . Here, in front of flags, buried Ham - the first space w impanze . Memorial Garden astronauts was created after the explosion of the "Challenger", and after the catastrophe shuttle "Columbia" at the memorial were added and the names of its crew members . opened IMAX theater at the museum, but visiting sessions require a separate fee .

The park and zoo of Alameda is located on White Sands Boulevard. It is the oldest zoo in the south-west. It was founded in 1898 by a railway company, and today it is possible to see 300 animals of 90 different species. The zoo has a shady picnic area, which visitors can freely use.

The depot of the toy train hides inside a small steam locomotive, which departs from the depot every half hour and circulates around the park of Alameda. This is the smallest of the operating trains in the world. In addition Milyaga in a century-old depot collected hundreds of model and toy trains, and here recreated landscape Alamogordo 1940

The historical museum of the Tularoza basin adjoins the Alameda Park. Here you can get acquainted with dozens of documentary evidence - notes and photos related to the history of the early years of development of this area, and for free. Among the exhibits is the American flag with 47 stars, a rarity: New Mexico became just the 47th state that joined the union, and such flags were issued only a month, until the 48th state became Arizona.

The building of the Otero District Administration was built in 1938 in the pueblo style and was originally intended for mail. In the portico of the main entrance you can see the frescoes of Peter Hurd created in 1942. The post office moved in 1961 and the building received a new name - a federal building, and since 2009 the county government has been sitting here. Today the construction is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

The White Sands National Monument, about 23 km from Alamogordo, is a special territory, the largest in the world, where there are dunes from alabaster sand, fine and whitewashed .The National Monument of White Sands was announced in 1933 ., although attempts to preserve this unique natural attraction were made in the late 19th century .The creation of the park successfully coincided with the Great Depression, when the Roosevelt administration paid enough attention to public projects .As a result, in the first year of the opening, the park visited 12 thousand .people, and today the number of visitors reaches 600 thousand .

One of the local entertainment is skating from the dunes on the sled, which can be bought at the souvenir shop near the Visitors Center. And from mid-April to mid-June, desert flowers blossom here, mostly cacti, and this looks truly amazing. The only way to get to the park is your own car: public transport does not travel here. There is a small fee for admission.

Events of Alamogordo

Every year the city hosts a festival of balloons .On this day, numerous balloons soar into the air from the site on Fest Street or from the White Sands National Monument and fly over the Tularosa basin .In addition, every two years (at odd years) the Holloman Air Force base holds a large air show .Another somewhat unusual celebration that takes place at the same airbase is the Oktoberfest, its instigators are the German Air Force of the German tactical training center located at the Holloman airbase .Oktoberfest is invited to the general public, and shuttle buses carry people from the city to the base .

In autumn, usually in September, on the weekend before the balloon festival in Albuquerque, the wine festival of the Tularoza basin takes place. And every year on Earth Day, in April, at the Alameda Zoo, they organize a festival where butterflies are produced, hold a science fair and other educational ecology.

In early August, at the corner of White Sands Boulevard and Fairgrounds Road, Otero County Fair is held. The program of events includes rodeo, various competitions, culinary fights and carnival processions. On the weekend of Labor Day in the park Alameda is a festival of art and culture Cottonwood. First of all, you can consider and buy all kinds of handmade items, but also listen to music, eat and have fun.

Surroundings of Alamogordo

The town of Cloudcroft is less than half an hour away by car from the city .This small settlement is high in the Sacramento Mountains, where no more than 1000 people live permanently .The village was founded especially by a businessman from Alamogordo as a mountain resort in the early 20th century .The height, low humidity and dark blue sky even in the day make Cloudcroft a popular place to observe clouds and stars .There are two observatories here: one can go through Sanspot with an excursion, with or without a guide, and according to Apache Point - only during the daytime .In addition, the town is popular for lovers of walks through the forest and mountains .

Ruidoso is located an hour's drive from Alamogordo, and it is famous for being a mountain resort where you can practice equestrian sport - and at the world level .In summer, the number of local people triples thanks to the residents of New Mexico and Texas, who come here for racing, gambling and pure mountain air .The casino and the racetrack are located in the village of Ruidoso Downs, adjacent to the town .The races take place from the commemoration day until September, culminating on Labor Day .In addition, the town has a Hubbard museum dedicated to the American West, and a winter entertainment park .Also, Ruidoso is a good base for exploring the Lincoln National Forest, which is right next door .