Glorieta had its
beginning a few years
after the Civil War. It
was, however, during the
war that the town to be
had its claim to fame.
During March of 1862 as
the Confederates
attempted to occupy New
Mexico, a decisive
engagement between
Confederate and Union
troops took place at a
site named Pigeon's
Ranch near La Glorieta
Pass. The battle ended
with a Union victory and
put an end to the
Confederate challenge to
New Mexico. In 1879, the
Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe Railroad came
over La Glorieta Pass
and a small village
began to grow a few
miles west of Pigeon's
Ranch that was to become
the town of Glorieta.
Shortly after World War
II the Southern Baptist
Assembly chose Glorieta
as headquarters for
their western leadership
center. Today the town
has a small mercantile
store, a restaurant, a
gift shop and a
sprinkling of homes.