Landmarks Around the NRA Whittington Center 

A Glimpse Into Our Storied Past

Stitched in the fabric of our American history is the legendary Santa Fe Trail which blazed the way for the pioneers, traders, settlers and adventurers who conquered the Wild West. Stretching from Missouri and points east, this mid-1800 grassy highway, sometimes measuring a mile wide, brought wagonloads of people and goods bound for Santa Fe. Many did not survive the harrowing journey, but those who did bound the nation together and gave rise to a stronger America.

Santa Fe Trail Marker

Today, you can literally retrace history by following the wagon ruts of the Santa Fe Trail that cut through the NRA Whittington Center. As you tour the Center and retrace the past, you will want to stop by the Santa Fe Trail Marker located a short walk from our Visitor Center.

The Scout Statue

Near the Santa Fe Trail Marker you will also see “The Scout” statue featuring movie legend Charlton Heston as a mountain man on horseback. “The Scout” is a moving tribute to the men and women who lived life on the frontier and sacrificed everything to build a future for themselves and our country.

The Van Houten Ghost Town and Coal Mine

During its heyday more than 1,200 miners and their families called Van Houten home. It was developed by the Raton Coal and Fuel Company at the turn of the 20th century and the town had its own dairy, golf course and even baseball team. The coal mine was abandoned in 1952 but not lost to history. Go back in time with a visit to the Van Houten Ghost Town and Coal Mine ruins here at the Whittington Center.