Lamy, NM
Lamy, NM owes its existence to the fact that the Santa Fe Railway, building down through New Mexico in 1880, decided it wasn't feasible from an engineering standpoint to extend the main line into Santa Fe as had been planned. So the railroad bypassed Santa Fe about 20 miles to the southeast. Santa Fe citizens approved a $150,000 bond issue to build a railroad spur line from the capital southeast to the main line. The new railroad junction was called Galisteo Junction at first, but the name soon was changed to Lamy in honor of Archbishop J.B. Lamy of Santa Fe.
The old railroad community was notorious in the early 1880's as a headquarters for con men or "bunco steerers." Lamy was still an end-of-track town on the new railroad in 1880 when card sharks like Sawdust Charlie, Sheeney Frank and Winter Monkey Jack moved in and set up shop. Their victims, for the most part, were railroad passengers, enticed into the saloons for drinks and "a friendly little game of cards."
Come join us and tour this gem and its history.
The old railroad community was notorious in the early 1880's as a headquarters for con men or "bunco steerers." Lamy was still an end-of-track town on the new railroad in 1880 when card sharks like Sawdust Charlie, Sheeney Frank and Winter Monkey Jack moved in and set up shop. Their victims, for the most part, were railroad passengers, enticed into the saloons for drinks and "a friendly little game of cards."
Come join us and tour this gem and its history.
BOOK YOUR TOUR NOW