National Historic Landmark · historic district · Las Trampas, New Mexico

Las Trampas Historic District

Unincorporated community in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Added to the National Register in 1967, and a National Historic Landmark.

Las Trampas Historic District 017Las Trampas Historic District 018Las Trampas Historic District 021Las Trampas Historic District 022
Photos via Wikimedia Commons · 6 in the Commons category

What it is

Las Trampas or just Trampas, is an unincorporated hamlet in Taos County, New Mexico. Founded in 1751 to settle the Las Trampas Land Grant, its center retains the original early Spanish colonial defensive layout as well as the 18th-century San José de Gracia Church, one of the finest surviving examples of Spanish colonial church architecture in the United States. The village center was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1967. The population in 2023 was 43.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Property typeHistoric district
AddressOn NM 76, Las Trampas, NM
CountyTaos County
ListedMay 28, 1967
Listed forCommunity planning, Architecture
Level of significanceNational
Reference number67000007
Type of placehistoric district
DesignationsNational Historic Landmark, listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties
Contributing resources15 buildings, 1 site

The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗

Visiting

AddressOn NM 76, Las Trampas, NM
Coordinates36.1325° N, 105.7639° W · Directions ↗
Nearest national park unitManhattan Project National Historical Park · 35 miles · on Park Atlas
Federal campgrounds nearbySanta Barbara Campground 9 miles · Amole Canyon Group Shelter 10 miles · Borrego Mesa Campground 11 miles
This one you can go inside. Hours and admission change with the season; the website above has the current schedule.

Explore

Map

Guidebooks to historic places and travel in New Mexico

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

When was Las Trampas Historic District listed on the National Register?

May 28, 1967. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.

Source: National Park Service

Can I visit Las Trampas Historic District?

Yes. Las Trampas Historic District is recorded as open to the public.

Source: Wikidata

Where is Las Trampas Historic District?

On NM 76, Las Trampas, Taos County, New Mexico. The nearest national park unit is Manhattan Project National Historical Park, 35 miles away.

Source: Manhattan Project National Historical Park

What does the Las Trampas Historic District listing include?

The listing counts 16 contributing resources. Those are 15 buildings and 1 site. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.

Source: National Park Service

Where is the nomination form for Las Trampas Historic District?

The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.

Source: National Archives

Are there campgrounds near Las Trampas Historic District?

Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Santa Barbara Campground, 9 miles away. Amole Canyon Group Shelter is 10 miles away, and Borrego Mesa Campground is 11 miles away.

Source: Campsite Atlas

Is there a wildfire near Las Trampas Historic District right now?

4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest Frijoles, 16 miles away.

Source: Map

Sources

Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 67000007. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.