AROUND TOWN: Learn a bit of Old West history at Old Spanish Trail

We blast down the road in our SUVs. We hurry off in our sleek sedans.
 
But seldom do we think of how traveling was, back in the old days. You know, the “How the West was won” days. OK, so maybe the West wasn’t “won” when all travelers were trying to do was survive. But the Old Spanish Trail, a pack mule route, ran through our valley as people followed the water.

To honor the 150-mile trek through the Nevada desert, a kiosk has been erected in Red Rock Canyon, along U.S. Highway 159. It’s at the scenic overlook.

The history behind the Old Spanish isn’t often taught in school, and the kiosk can’t cover every aspect. But highlights include its use by historic figures like  Jedediah Smith and Kit Carson. Spanish traffic was seen mostly between 1765 and 1821 when they traded with the Ute tribe for goods, even slaves.

While it didn’t become a regular commercial trade route until  the 1830s, there's documentation of a Spanish expedition using a portion of it in 1776. Yeah, that’s right — the year that the United States declared itself a separate country.

To learn more, check out the Summerlin View.