Did you know?
On October 16, 1966, Raton Pass was formally placed on the newly established National Register of Historic Places, further cementing its protection as a historic mountain corridor.
Originally designated a National Historic Landmark in December 1960, the pass served as a crucial direct route for wagons traveling between Missouri and Santa Fe starting in 1821.
It played a major role in American military history during both the Mexican-American War and the Civil War, and in 1866, famous frontier figure Richens “Uncle Dick” Wootton constructed a historic toll road through the treacherous mountain terrain.
Today, while Interstate 25, active railroad tracks, and scenic old highway segments cross the pass, key portions of the original roadway remain preserved and protected under historic registers.
Story and photos posted on Colorado Welcome Center Trinidad’s Facebook page on October 16, 2026.
