The World College Near Las Vegas, NM

If you travel the state of New Mexico you see names that make you wonder if the locations were named by visitors from other parts of the United States or the world.  For example you will find San Antonio, Pecos, Chili, Milan and Midway just to name a few.  Then there is Montezuma, New Mexico just a short drive north of Las Vegas, New Mexico.  Montezuma is home to the World College, that offers an International Baccalaureate to a global student body that has the opportunity to live and learn through an experiential curriculum. 

I visited the World College as a member of the 2019 Leadership New Mexico class.  The World College does offer public visits on pre-scheduled days through out the year.  During our visit we had the opportunity to meet with students over lunch in the cafeteria.  When I entered the cafeteria I was immediate struck by the amazing Chihuly glass feature.  The feature is classic "Chilhuly" with glass extensions protruding from a center structure.  The feature glistened in the well lite eating area. The dinning area included many windows providing natural light to highlight the blond wood paneling surrounding the room.  A fire place anchored the north wall, reminiscent of the days when the room was heating by wood. 

Much of the Castle that demands attention was remodeled through many generous donors from many countries throughout the world.  Various parts of the interior memorialize the generosity through name plates or photos of the donors.  The Castle is surrounded by a large deck, complete with chairs to allow students opportunities to socialize or just set a while a gaze out on the beautiful countryside that surrounds the grounds.  I found myself rocking in a chair while being warmed by the sun reflecting on how such a place would be a wonderful opportunity for students to study with a diverse set of colleagues.  I image that any graduate would be well prepared to work within any international setting. 

Our Leadership class toured The Castle.  The rooms were small, but cozy.  The decor was amazing.  Talking with students provided a wonderful window into the depth of learning that occurs.  Many students have hobbies that they cultivate while attending the school.  The flexible schedule allows students the time to explore their interests in depth while providing the foundational education necessary for all learned citizens.  I couldn't help buy wonder how our educational system would be different if we abandoned standardized tests and allow students to study their interest and passions in a similar depth. 

Las Vegas, New Mexico: The Historic Plaza Hotel

Las Vegas, New Mexico.  Yes, you read that correctly.  The city of Las Vegas is not only in Nevada, but also in New Mexico.  When I had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, NM I was looking forward to visiting the historic downtown.  I was not disappointed.  I also discovered there was more to see in Las Vegas than I expected.  I book my stay at the historic Plaza Inn named "The Belle of the Southwest" after opening in 1882.

The historic charm is still visible today.  When I entered the hotel my mind quickly flashed back to the late 1800s.  I quickly learned Las Vegas and The Historic Plaza Hotel was a popular location for Hollywood film crews.  Filming in Las Vegas began in the early 1900s with silent movies.  Since then films such as Speechless (1994), Red Dawn (1984), Convoy (1978) and Easy Rider (1969) are just a few movies to use Las Vegas, New Mexico as a backdrop when filming a movie.  The Historic Plaza Hotel places pictures of important guests and starts outside their quest rooms to inform others about who has stayed in the various rooms.  Most recently form first lady Michelle Obama stayed at the Historic Plaza Hotel.  To learn more about the films shot in Las Vegas you can visit the Las Vegas film site.

The first floor of the hotel is home to the reception desk, a makeshift store with local jewelry, books, and collectibles.  The first floor includes a dinning area and bar.  As I walked into the bar I could picture cowboy travelers from "back in the day" drinking, sharing stories of the travels, or playing cards at a table.  The current hotel captures the charm of history beautifully while allowing modern day quests the amenities they have come to expect when traveling.

My room was on the third floor, accessible by both elevator and stairs.  The stair cases are beautifully done and certainly hint at the time before ADA required accessibility for all quests.  I can imagine early 1900s quests traveled with less luggage than I did.  However, I could resist taking the stairs and wondering through each floor to look at the pictures of previous, famous guests.
The hotel is set in the center of the historic downtown Las Vegas city.  The hotel sits in the middle of a public space in that the surrounded by historic buildings on each of the four sides.  The area reminds me of the "city-center" spaces common in the east and western European cities.  Today the area is a wonderful location to sit and watch the coming and goings of guests and citizens of New Mexico.  I visited in the fall when the leaves were turning color.  The fall backdrop made for some lovely sites during the sunny, cool day.  I enjoyed my stay and look forward to sharing more about the other discoveries in Las Vegas, New Mexico.