Name: Santa Fe’s Fonda
Brand: Allen R. Steele
SKU: 9781467151153
Price: 21.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Santa Fe’s Fonda

9781467151153

$21.99

For the first two centuries of Santa Fe's history, weary wayfarers were out of luck. Not only did the Spanish authorities enforce a strict travel ban on foreign visitors, but there was also no place to stay in the territorial capital. That all changed in the 1820s. When Mexico gained independence, a flood of traffic cascaded down the Santa Fe Trail, and the Plaza became a hub of hospitality and trade. From the Exchange Hotel to La Fonda, the inn on the corner of San Francisco Street represented one of the most welcome landmarks in the West. Author Allen Steele recounts stories of trailblazing pioneers and the lodging on which their daring depended.

Saving the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

9781609495473

$19.99

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has operated for more than three decades as a tourist ride over the breathtaking Cumbres Pass, ten thousand feet above sea level in the Rocky Mountains. The sixty-four miles of the former San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway were saved twice by volunteers from the railroad graveyard. In 1970, the States of Colorado and New Mexico bought the railroad, which runs from Chama, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, to Antonito, Conejos County, Colorado. New Mexico historian and C&TSRR commissioner and spokesman Spencer Wilson offers an insider's account of this triumphant tale of historical preservationists succeeding on an impressive scale.

Saving the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Sierra County

9781467128568

$24.99

In 1884, Sierra County was formed in the Middle Rio Grande Corridor of the New Mexico Territory out of the existing counties of Grant, Doña Ana, and Socorro. Not everyone was pleased with the new county, and the courthouse was said to look like "a dance hall." From the fortunes and misfortunes of the miners in the historical towns of the Black Range to the comings and goings of the railroad towns, Sierra County is rich in history. The town of Hot Springs (later renamed Truth or Consequences) came into existence when entrepreneurs decided that the naturally occurring mineral springs could cure arthritis, neuritis, rheumatism, and alcoholism. The Carrie Tingley Hospital for Crippled Children, built to take advantage of the natural warm springs to help in the treatment of polio, is now the current New Mexico State Veterans' Home. Sierra County is also home to Elephant Butte Dam and Caballo Dam, both of which have history with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps.

Silver City

9780738599946

$24.99

Silver City is located at the southern boundary of the vast Gila Wilderness in a region of soaring mountains, lush river valleys, and bountiful mineral deposits. Ancient ruins give evidence of prehistoric occupation, followed by a historic parade of Native Americans, Spaniards, Mexicans, miners, outlaws, and settlers, resulting in a community celebrating a rich cultural blend. When silver was discovered in 1870 at La Cienega de San Vicente, prospectors rushed in despite the danger from Apache Indians who traditionally occupied that land. Newcomers flooded into southwestern New Mexico Territory, and Silver City became the county seat the following year. Soon there were businesses, saloons, and homes. Silver City became the supply center for the widespread mining district with a brick plant and lumberyard. By 1883, a narrow-gauge railroad connected the town with the outside world.

Skiing in New Mexico

9781467107020

$23.99

New Mexico's long and distinguished skiing history began with the miners of the late 19th century and its pioneer settlers. Ski area development was launched in the 1930s in the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque and quickly spread to the southernmost range of the Rocky Mountains--the Sangre de Cristos, north of Santa Fe. Students of a boarding school, the Los Alamos Ranch School, took up the sport in the Jemez Mountains, and when the school was occupied in the 1940s by American and international scientists like Neils Bohr working to create the world's first atomic bomb, they enthusiastically pursued skiing in their rare spare time. Taos Ski Valley's founding in 1955 elevated the scene to world-class status, and today, there are eight major downhill ski areas and one cross-country center stretching from the deserts of south-central New Mexico to the Colorado border.

Socorro

9781467132190

$24.99

The town of Socorro got its name from the "succor" travelers found at the northern end of a 90-mile-long desert trail known as the Jornada del Muerto, the "Journey of the Dead Man," in central New Mexico. The village of Socorro, located at the site of the ancient 1600s Piro Pueblo, was first settled sometime around 1816 as an agricultural community. The discovery of silver at Socorro Peak and the Magdalena Mountains and the arrival of the railroad in 1880 brought boom times to the town. The demonetization of silver in 1893 was the end of Socorro's boom, and the community gradually reverted to its agricultural heritage. Reminders of days gone by can still be seen in Socorro. The Garcia Opera House, the Crown Mill, the Illinois Brewery, and several historic houses have been successfully preserved.

Southwestern New Mexico Mining Towns

9780738579276

$24.99

Spanish and American prospectors discovered gold, silver, and copper mines in southwestern New Mexico in the 1800s. This volume explores the further development of these mining operations into the early 1900s. During this time period, improvements in technology made mining profitable, and eastern corporations invested in New Mexico mines. World War I created a demand for copper, and this era saw the development of paternalistic company towns. Miners faced difficult and dangerous working conditions, but their lives improved compared to previous generations. Many of the towns and the people in southwestern New Mexico owed their livelihood, in whole or in part, to mining. Some of these places have disappeared entirely, some are ghost towns, and others are thriving communities.

Sugarite Coal Camp

9781467126953

$24.99

Tucked into a remote canyon in northeastern New Mexico, Sugarite Coal Camp created a true melting pot for mostly immigrant miners slinging picks and shovels. The coal they labored to produce heated homes across several states for decades. In a bountiful place long used by native peoples and then by cattle ranchers, coal mining debuted in Sugarite (Sugar-eet') Canyon in the early 1900s. The St. Louis, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Company quickly ramped up full-scale mining operations, building an orderly town of sturdy block houses perched upon canyon slopes. A store, school, post office, and clubhouse served camp residents, many hailing from Eastern Europe, Italy, Greece, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Mexico, and even Japan. With the rumble of coal cars as background music, poor mining families lived a rich life making wine, dancing, and playing sports. Today, visitors to Sugarite Canyon State Park tour ghostly remains of the camp, one of the few accessible to the public.

Super Cities! Albuquerque

9781467198554

$14.99

Sometimes the coolest places are right outside your front door. Learning about Albuquerque’s interesting and unique culture has never been so super fun!

Did you know Albuquerque’s annual International Balloon Fiesta is the largest gathering of hot-air balloons in the world? Or that people have been living in northern New Mexico for nearly 12,000 years? Have you ever been to a concert at the haunted KiMo Theater? From the Rio Grande to Sandia Peak, Super Cities!: Albuquerque covers it all and is sure to engage any reader with fun facts about the history, culture, and people who make this place great. Hike La Luz Trail, explore the Wildlife West Nature Park, and take a ride down Route 66, all right here. Take a peek inside to learn more about the impressive, unusual, super history of the Duke City!

Tall Tales & Half Truths of Pat Garrett

9781467135450

$21.99

While many lionize Billy the Kid, the man who killed him, Sheriff Patrick Floyd Garrett, has a rarely told but riveting true story all his own. His adventurous life spawned many a far-fetched, exciting legend. In 1896, Garrett's investigation of the still-unsolved murder of Albert J. Fountain on the White Sands led to nothing but a gunfight and a dead deputy. Some say that Garrett faked the details the night the Kid was brought to ultimate justice, while others swear another wannabe hero did him in. In perfect irony, Garrett's own 1908 death is shrouded in mystery. Some report he died by the hand of Billy the Kid himself. Author John LeMay exposes fabricated tales for what they are and focuses on memories long forgotten about Billy the Kid's personal grave digger, Sheriff Pat Garrett.

Tall Tales and Half Truths of Billy the Kid

9781626199965

$21.99

While many respectable books on Billy the Kid aim to demystify his illusory life, this one-of-a-kind collection proudly has no such intention. Find all of the untold and potentially true--but very unlikely and highly embellished--stories of the Kid's life, death and enthralling life thereafter. Be thrilled by sightings of Billy's ghost riding through old Fort Sumner and marvel at his search for the fabled Lost Adams Diggings. Wonder at the mysterious thefts of his tombstone and discover the famed desperado's dozen or so doppelgangers who posthumously popped up all across the Southwest. Courtesy of yarn-spinning raconteurs of yore, author John LeMay unveils the many forgotten and discarded tales of the legendary William H. Bonney, an everlasting emblem of the American West.

Tall Tales and Half Truths of Billy the Kid

Tall Tales and Half Truths of Clay Allison

9781467151030

$23.99

Sort outlandish fiction from no-less-outrageous fact in this wild ride with the West's Gentleman Gunfighter. Robert Andrew Clay Allison was a jumble of contradictions. Mentally unstable and mean as a rattlesnake, he was also a fierce defender of the innocent. A hard drinker but a quiet-spoken man. A hell raiser who was an impromptu preacher. He was as feared for his prowess with pistol and Bowie knife as he was famous for loving whiskey and dancing. Largely forgotten today, his legend once sprawled across the frontier from Cimarron to Mobeetie, where he was known to careen drunkenly through the streets wearing only his gunbelt and his boots. Donna Blake Birchell places one of New Mexico's most fascinating figures back among his more well-chronicled peers.

Tall Tales and Half Truths of Clay Allison

Taos

9780738579597

$24.99

Located in the "Land of Enchantment," Taos has a long history that predates the Pilgrims' arrival at Plymouth Rock. Anasazi Indians first inhabited the Taos Valley in 1000 A.D., and the Taos Pueblo (both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark) has been continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years. Spanish conquistadors explored Taos in 1540, and by 1615 many Spanish families had settled in the region. Taos later became a crossroads for French and American trappers, and by the early 1800s it was a bustling headquarters for mountain men, including the legendary Kit Carson. When artists Bert Phillips and Ernest Blumenschein passed through in 1898, a broken wagon wheel delayed them and ultimately resulted in another wave of newcomers, who established an art colony. In 1917, New York socialite Mabel Dodge became enthralled with Taos, and during the next four decades she invited many highly regarded creative people to visit, including Ansel Adams, Carl Jung, Georgia O'Keefe, Willa Cather, D. H. Lawrence, and Aldous Huxley. Taos continues to attract adventurous, spirited individuals.

The Counterfeiters of Bosque Redondo

9781467151429

$21.99

Discover the staggeringly true story of how the first Navajo silversmiths fed and freed a nation.

"Old Pounder," they called him -- the very first Navajo silversmith. Yet Herrero Delgadito's greatest legacy is measured in lives, not ounces: the scores of Navajo women and children he plucked out of slavery in 1864, the hundreds of exiles he risked everything to feed in 1865 and the thousands of people he helped lead back home in 1868. A remarkable portrait of human resilience, Delgadito's story upends conventional narratives of the West, revealing an illicit slave system that began with the Conquistadors and reached its apex under the Union Army. Even as US officials fought to end slavery in the South, they weaponized human trafficking against the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Matt Fitzsimons traces the trajectory of the prisoners of Bosque Redondo who forged a path to freedom.

The Galisteo Basin and Cerrillos Hills

9781467127189

$24.99

The Galisteo Basin and the Cerrillos Hills, an ancient seabed ringed by ancient volcanic upheavals, are located in Central New Mexico. The region has been occupied for thousands of years. The oldest known turquoise mines in North America, as well as the earliest significant gold strike in North America, can be found in this region. The town of Galisteo was founded in 1617, while Los Cerrillos got its start as a railroad stop and regional center in 1880. Archaeological work on eight major Pueblo ruins was initiated in 1912 by Nels Nelson of the American Museum of Natural History. Many photographs from his expedition are found in this book, with several of them never having been published before. Also included are images of Cerrillos Hills mining in 1880; again, some of these photographs have never been previously published.

The Ghostly Tales of Albuquerque

9781467198394

$12.99

Ghost stories from the Duke City have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! The haunted history of Albuquerque comes to life--even when the main players are dead. Hear the clinking of spurs against ghostly cowboy boots walking through the High Noon Restaurant. Or witness the lights flicker at the Church Street Café. Stop by La Hacienda restaurant and perhaps dine with a presence from another realm! Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

The Ghostly Tales of New Mexico

9781467198691

$12.99

Ghost stories from New Mexico's hotels and getaways have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

The haunted history of the Land of Enchantment comes to life--even when the main players are dead. Visit the Painted Lady and Brew to catch a glimpse of the spirits who checked in but never checked out. Or look for ghosts of cowboys and farmers in Carlsbad at the infamous Trinity Hotel. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

The Ghostly Tales of Santa Fe

9781467197342

$12.99

Ghost stories from America's heart of the Southwest have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!
Welcome to the spooky streets of Santa Fe! Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. Did you know a ghostly miner still roams the Sangre de Cristo Mountains looking for the treasure he lost? Or that the spirit of a Spanish solider wanders Santa Fe not realizing he's dead? Can you believe you may even spot the ghost of Billy the Kid playing cards in town? Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Santa Fe, and have you sleeping with the light on!

The Jicarilla Apache of Dulce

9780738595290

$24.99

Now the headquarters of the Jicarilla Apache, Dulce (meaning "sweet" in Spanish) was named by the impoverished and relocated Indians who associated the place with the sugar and candy that came with government-supplied rations. Since the establishment of the reservation in 1887, Dulce has become the hub of everything associated with the Jicarillas. From the early timber operations, farming, and livestock raising, the Jicarilla Apache have become an economic powerhouse of northern New Mexico. Dulce is now a community living in two worlds, fully immersed in the American mainstream economy with a world-class hunting lodge, significant oil and gas operations, and widely diversified investments while fiercely maintaining the centuries-old language, culture, religion, and ceremonies of Jicarilla Apache Indians.

The Manhattan Project Trinity Test

9781467144421

$21.99

At 5:29 a.m. on July 16, 1945, the Trinity Test explosion of the first atomic bomb changed the world forever. The dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan followed soon after, but it was the first blast in what is now known as White Sands Missile Range that marked the beginning of the end of World War II. In southern New Mexico, although the Manhattan Project was still top secret, everyday people witnessed the test, experienced its light and power, felt the earth move and knew the world had changed. Author Elva K. Österreich shares the stories of their experience and how their lives were transformed.

The Nogal Mesa: A History of Kivas and Ranchers in Lincoln County

9781609491314

$21.99

This book was a finalist for the New Mexico Book Co-Op History Book of the Year. Most people think of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War when Lincoln County, New Mexico is mentioned. Yet, the county has a rich history besides that chapter of lawlessness and violence. In writing this book I wanted to tell the story of the miners and forest rangers and the Civilian Conservation Corps and early settlers. The Jornada Mogollon culture was here over a thousand years ago but had left before Christopher Columbus arrived in the new world. They have left pieces of their lifestyle in the form of pueblos and pottery. A railroad was built in the basin below the Mesa, but the water there was full of alkaline and chemicals. The Mesa had pristine mountain water and an engineering miracle was built in the form of a pipeline to get the water from the Mesa to the railroad. A western religious revival in the form of the Ranchman's Camp continues this summer for the 71st year.

The Nogal Mesa: A History of Kivas and Ranchers in Lincoln County

The Turquoise Trail

9780738596556

$24.99

The Turquoise Trail is a quirky, alternative road stretching between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Before horses trod the route, it linked three Native American pueblos. The earliest mining activity in North America took place along the trail; local Native Americans mined a huge vein of turquoise that was visible on the surface. In the age of horses and wagons, the road ran through dusty Wild West towns, mining districts, and mountains, which were once roamed by thousands of prospectors with dreams of finding the mother lode. When mining became unprofitable, the inhabitants packed whatever they could into their cars and pulled out, seeking employment elsewhere. But a time came when people realized there was still potential in these old ghost towns. The buildings that once housed miners and the businesses that supported them are now occupied by art galleries, boutiques, and modern pioneers. The route still has a flavor of the Wild West, but instead of cowboys and miners, it now attracts motorcycle enthusiasts, movie crews, and day-trippers who appreciate authenticity and local color.

The Turquoise Trail

9781467132954

$24.99

The Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway is located in the heart of Central New Mexico. Linking Albuquerque to Santa Fe, the trail weaves its way north from Tijeras to the Lone Butte area, ending just south of the "City Different." The trail is renowned for its mountainous landscapes, brilliantly painted skies, and diversity of cultures, all of which are reflected in local theater and dance traditions that are found along this 62-mile route. These arts have been important to Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures. There is also a chapter that highlights the flourishing film industry and the popular entertainments of the Turquoise Trail.

Towns of Lincoln County

9780738579085

$24.99

Lincoln County is often associated with such legendary figures as outlaw Billy the Kid, Smokey the Bear, and renowned painter Peter Hurd. Named after Pres. Abraham Lincoln in 1869, the new county saw itself through many struggles, including the Lincoln County War, during which cattle barons and landowners bitterly fought over government beef contracts and farmland. At that time, Lincoln was the largest county in the United States and is now home to modern mountain towns such as Carrizozo, Capitan, Ruidoso, and the locally famous ghost town White Oaks, which had been a gold rush boomtown. Lincoln County also contains the beautiful Hondo Valley settlements and ranching communities such as Tinnie, Picacho, San Patricio, Hondo, and Glencoe. From the rolling hills of the Hondo Valley, to the bloody streets of Lincoln, all the way to the forested mountains of Capitan, this retrospective explores the area's rich history.

Towns of the Sandia Mountains

9780738548524

$24.99

Despite their seemingly impenetrable western facade, the Sandia Mountains of central New Mexico have been home to humankind for millennia. Ancient cultures ventured into these peaks for the creeks, game, and shelter. The Spanish established protective outposts along the canyons and intermarried with local tribes. Civil War soldiers passed through en route to their infamous battle at Glorieta Pass. Navajos marched around the mountains' southern end after the confinement that ended their Long Walk. Anglo settlers cleared the hilly land and built cabins. And tuberculosis patients moved up into primitive resorts, hoping that the mountains' abundant sunshine and fresh air would help them heal. Today the tiny resorts and traditional hamlets of the Sandias are established villages and communities-Carnuel, Tijeras, San Antonio, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, San Antonito, Placitas, and others-and the rough dirt roads that once saw the passing of ox carts are highways and even an interstate. The area's history lives on, however, in crumbling adobe walls, bits of rust, fading memories, and in this photographic retrospective.

Tres Ritos:

9781609498832

$21.99

Tres Ritos was first settled by the Jornada Mogollon in AD 900, and these ancient farmers left their presence in the form of more than twenty-one thousand petroglyphs along a mile-long ridge. The valley was visited by Spanish explorers in the 1600s and became the homeland of the Mescalero Apaches about that same time. Patrick Coghlan, the "Cattle King of Tularosa," built a major ranch here with his cattle being rustled and sold to him by none other than Billy the Kid. Susan McSween Barber, the widow of Alexander McSween of Lincoln County War fame, prospered here as the "Cattle Queen of New Mexico." Albert Fall, infamous for his participation in the Teapot Dome Scandal, owned Coghlan's ranch and much more. Join local historian Gary Cozzens as he tells the story of Tres Ritos--a small but intriguing place in New Mexico history.

Truth or Consequences

9780738579177

$24.99

"Hot Springs, New Mexico, Ain't That Any More" was one of the headlines on April 4, 1950, in the Gallup Independent. As a publicity stunt, Ralph Edwards had invited a town to change its name to "Truth or Consequences," the name of his popular radio quiz show, and Hot Springs agreed to do so. Since the late 1800s, the area has attracted health seekers to bathe in and drink from the area's hot mineral springs. The region is home to Elephant Butte Dam and lake, completed in 1916, which remains one of the largest irrigation dams in the United States. Carrie Tingley Crippled Children's Hospital, built in 1937 by New Mexico governor Clyde Tingley, utilized the natural hot mineral waters to treat children with polio. From the placement of the Hot Springs Bathhouse and Commercial District on the State and National Register of Historic Places to the centennial celebration of Elephant Butte Dam, Truth or Consequences continues to grow and develop while still honoring its heritage.

USS New Mexico BB-40

9781467127721

$24.99

USS New Mexico (BB-40) was commissioned into the fleet near the end of World War I, and the battleship's name was a great honor bestowed upon a state that was but five years old. Because of her superlative performance, New Mexico came to be known as the "Queen of the Seas." During World War II, she was one of the fiercest fighting ships in the Pacific theater, earning six battle stars. This book describes how battleships evolved over the years, how New Mexico was constructed and later modernized, and how she proudly displayed the American flag across two oceans. At the same time, it offers a rare glimpse into her inner workings, shipboard life, and her role in taking the fight to the enemy after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The sailing list for USS New Mexico (BB-40) reflects the highest credit upon her officers and crew. These men signed their names to naval history and will long be remembered for their incredible service to the Navy and the nation.

White Sands Missile Range

9780738558783

$24.99

Since the official flag raising on July 9, 1945, the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) has become an integral part of global defense for the United States. A mere week after formation, Project Trinity tested the first atomic bomb at an isolated site, which was 100 miles north on what was then part of the Alamogordo Bombing Range--a test site for B-17 pilots. Back at White Sands Proving Ground, as it was then named, personnel were unaware of the massive new weapon tested to their north. Instead their focus was upon the arrival of what would be 300 railroad cars of captured German V-2 rockets and associated equipment. Later that year, over 100 captured German scientists, among them Werner von Braun, would arrive at White Sands to assist in V-2 technology, launching America's race to space; tens of thousands of rockets and missiles have since been fired on the range. Thousands of family members also lived and worked at the range, and their stories can be found inside as well.

White Sands Missile Range

9780738570532

$7.99

White Sands Missile Range boasts a rich history.

White Sands National Monument

9781467130646

$24.99

The world's largest gypsum dune field, the 275-square-mile dunes of White Sands National Monument are a geologic oddity more than 250 million years in the making. Located in Southern New Mexico, the popularity of the monument draws nearly half a million visitors each year to the National Park Service's southwestern region. The area is protected from encroachment by the boundaries of the US Army's White Sands Missile Range and houses no less than 144 species of birds, 20 unique mammals, and 371 types of insects. The gypsum's beauty has been captured by photographers and filmmakers for more than a century. Both Hollywood and scientists alike have sought after the monument's stunning otherworldly visuals to mimic other countries and worlds. The deserts of Qatar were recreated for Transformers (2007), and the monument has been identified as a potential analog site for Mars.

Wicked Albuquerque

9781467137980

$21.99

Albuquerque's early lawless reputation rivaled that of Dodge City and Tombstone. Its red-light district was known as Hell's Half Acre. Brothel owner Lizzy McGrath once had a local church demolished to build her new bordello. Milt Yarberry, the town's first marshal, was hanged for murder. And the controversial Elfego Baca, who had the gall to face Pancho Villa, survived a thirty-six-hour gunfight unscathed. Author Cody Polston presents the tales of those who slipped through the cracks of morality.

Wicked Taos

9781626193079

$21.99

The people of Taos have always displayed a feisty--if not downright insurgent--spirit. Every uprising that toppled a New Mexican government started here, beginning with the Pueblo revolt against the Spanish colonists and including the assassinations of a Mexican-era tax governor, who lost his head, and the first American governor, who lost his scalp before his life. Living on the edge of the northern frontier of New Spain, Taosenos became accomplished smugglers of slaves, firearms and other black market goods. As a convenient terminus of the Old Sante Fe Trail, Taos drew loitering rabble-rousers who were overly fond of the dangerous hooch called Taos Lightning. In the twentieth century, a sleepy artists' colony became a haven for a new kind of revolutionary, who dreamed of overthrowing bourgeois values. Join author Ellen Dornan as she delves into the wicked history of Taos, New Mexico.

Wicked Women of New Mexico

9781626191280

$19.99

New Mexico Territory attracted outlaws and desperados as its remote locations guaranteed non-detection while providing opportunists the perfect setting in which to seize wealth. Many wicked women on the run from their pasts headed there seeking new starts before and after 1912 statehood. Colorful characters such as Bronco Sue, Sadie Orchard and Lizzie McGrath were noted mavens of mayhem, while many other women were notorious gamblers, bawdy madams or confidence tricksters. Some paid the ultimate price for crimes of passion, while others avoided punishment by slyly using their beguiling allure to influence authorities. Follow the raucous tales of these wild women in a collection that proves crime in early New Mexico wasn't only a boys' game.