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Magdalena Guide

Last updated on Friday, February 21, 2003

Magdalena — watched over by Mary Magdalene

Magdalena has seen it all. From the days of lead, zinc and silver mining in the 1880s and cattle shipping when the railroad spur from Socorro reached the town in 1884 to test missies flying overhead, Magdalena has grown and shrunk and grown again.

Magdalena's Salome Store — doorway to the past

The often rocky path that leads from yesterday to today runs smooth and little changed at the Salome Store in Magdalena, New Mexico. Located on Route 60, 25 miles west of Socorro, the family-run General Merchandise store opened its doors in 1910 and hasn't closed them since.

The Very Large Array (VLA) — Listening to the Stars in New Mexico

Where once cattle grazed and cowboys drove their livestock to market, the Plains of San Augustin near Magdalena, New Mexico, have become a mecca for hi-tech science and astronomical research. How strange it would have seemed to those ranchers of a century ago to now find this stretch of desert occupied by these strange, tall, bowl-shaped structures pointing into the sky, never dreaming of the purpose behind them.

Today, this vast, arid desert valley is now home to the most powerful radio telescope in the world, the Very Large Array. With its twenty-seven dish antennas, each connected to the other, spread out over 22 miles in a "Y" formation, the Very Large Array, or VLA, is capable of detecting extremely faint radio emissions from the distant stars.

Trail ride fulfills dream and renews family's faith in humanity

It was Cruz Baca's dream. Having grown up in the Riley area, then living around the high country, he wanted to ride the Rio Salado from its beginning all the way to Riley. Coming into Magdalena, New Mexico on horseback in time for the Old Timers' Reunion was an added incentive.

Magdalena Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 86
Magdalena, NM 87825
(505) 854-2482
(800) 854-2719
commerce@magdalena-nm.com
www.magdalena-nm.com

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