Socorro is a city in the state of New
Mexico, in the United States of America. The name Socorro is Spanish
for "succor" or "aid," which is what 18th- and 19th-century looked for as
they traveled south through the desert between Mexico and Santa Fe. During
the late 19th century Socorro was the largest town in what is now New
Mexico, as the result of an intense but short-lived mining boom. The bubble
burst by the early 1900s, and today Socorro is a smallish town of about 9000
people, dominated by the New Mexico Institute
of Mining and Technology (a legacy of its mining days and now a
well-regarded technical college) and the
National Radio Astronomy Observatory . Socorro is located in a
geologically interesting area, as its mining past might suggest. Scruffy
mountains (one decorated with a large "M" denoting the college, formerly the
New Mexico School of Mines) rise to the west, while the Rio Grande east of
town flows through a major continental rift and has created a number of
wetlands -- bosques -- that attract wildlife in this dry region. More
ominously, a body of volcanic magma is intruding into near-surface crust not
far north of town, creating an uplift that scientists at New Mexico Tech
delight in studying. Even though the region has been the site of
considerable volcanism in geologically recent times, not to worry; this
uplift is not viewed as posing imminent volcanic hazard -- yet.
Attractions
Most of the interest in the Socorro region is outside town and is covered
in the "Get out" section, but a couple of in-town points of interest:
• The Socorro town plaza, with a cute park, a fragment from Jumbo,
the vessel built to contain the first ever atomic bomb which was detonated
at the Trinity test site in 1945, and a few gift shops.
• New Mexico Tech,, is on the west
side of town and has a mineralogical museum, some art, and a pleasant, if
decidedly low-key, campus. Many of the cultural activities in town center on
Tech. (Don't visit expecting intercollegiate sports; apart from rugby and
soccer, there basically aren't any, although the college does have a decent
golf course.)
Dining
• El Sombrero: Classic New Mexican food, great ambience, easy on
the wallet, the "Number 4 blue green chicken over easy" is not be missed.
• Socorro Springs: Microbrewery and hand-made pizza, now on
California Street. Worth the trip.
• The El Camino: "The Road" as it is sometimes called by locals
serves New Mexican and American food. All night greasy-spoon diner for the
college students. Green-chile cheese fries are not to be missed and make a
meal all their own.
Lodging
California Avenue, the main drag north-south through town paralleling
I-25, has the usual assortment of chain motels and motor lodges (EconoLodge,
Super 8, Motel 6, Days Inn, etc.), mostly serviceable, none exceptional. The
Holiday Inn Express, 1100 California Ave NE, 505-838-0556, has more
amenities than most and is comfortable. Lodging in Socorro tends to be tight
around the Festival of the Cranes, and also in early October when the
overflow from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta reaches town, but
otherwise is usually not hard to get.
Get out
• The Very Large Array ,
long considered the world's most sensitive interferometric radio telescope
and still a first-rate instrument of astronomy, is about 60 miles west of
town, beyond the Magdalena Mountains. Driving out west along US 60, it is
surreal to come upon this shimmering, alien-looking collection of radio
dishes in the middle of the Plains of San Agustin. Open year round during
daylight hours for free self-guided tours.
• Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is part of the national
wildlife refuge system, maintained in part by
the Friends of the Bosque,
an all volunteer group. About 20 miles south of town; follow I-25 to the
village of San Antonio, then south on SR 1 to the refuge ($3 fee/car). This
is where snow geese, cranes and hundreds of other birds stop in on their
migrations. Gorgeous photography in the winter months during sunrise and
sunset - be prepared for the cold!
• Fort Craig National Historic Site is a ruin reachable via a short
side road from SR 1 south of the Bosque del Apache. A quick visit gives you
a sense of the bleak existence faced by the Army forces based here to guard
transportation routes during the 19th century. No visitor services other
than toilets.
• Langmuir
Lightning Laboratory in the Magdalena Mountains west of town,
associated with New Mexico Tech, is a major center for atmospheric-science
research and has a visitor center open during summer daylight hours; web
site . The road to the laboratory is rugged and may require 4-wheel drive.
Hiking in the Magdalenas is feasible using trailheads at, and on the way to,
Langmuir, even when the visitor center is closed.
Links
• Socorro -- Yeah, it's on the web! |
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Get in
The nearest airport with commercial air service is in Albuquerque, about
70 miles north. The nearest train (Amtrak) station is also in Albuquerque.
Buses run between Albuquerque and El Paso, Texas with a stop in Socorro. If
you're driving to Socorro, access from Albuquerque and El Paso is via
Interstate highway 25, with uniformly good road and full services every 50
miles or so. If approaching from the east (US 380) or west (US 60), however,
gas stations are few and far between, so plan accordingly.
Activities
• The Festival of
the Cranes is held annually in mid-November to celebrate the return
of the vast flocks of sandhill cranes to the Bosque del Apache National
Wildlife Refuge (see under "Get out"). There are exhibits and activities in
town, as well as guided tours to the refuge and other sites, some of which
are not routinely open to visitors. See for schedule, etc.
Get around
There's not much town to get around in, but the motels along California
Avenue do sprawl somewhat. A bicycle is handy. Bosque del Apache National
Wildlife Refuge (see below) is 15 miles away along a road that is pleasant
for cycling (although somewhat narrow -- be on the alert for recklessly
driven vehicles); most other outlying attractions are far enough away to be
best reached by car.
Drink
• The Capitol on the plaza is as good as it gets out here.
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