A trip to Belen can be shaped around a range of interests: local history, railways, art and remembrance, or an annual festival. These themes differ in content, while the events also offer specific but variable dates to plan around.
Local History and Railways
The city was founded in 1740 by two Spaniards, Captain Don Diego Torres and Antonio Salazar. Belen was named after Nuestra Senora de Belen, the Spanish words for Our Lady of Bethlehem, in honor of the biblical Virgin Mary. The year of its founding, the origin of its name and its religious dedication are connected: the place name leads to a specific historical explanation. This early founding history offers a different perspective from the later themes of railways, art and remembrance.
The history of railways is presented from two different perspectives. The Belen Harvey House Museum covers the history of Fred Harvey, including his exclusive rights to operate dining rooms, restaurants and hotels along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad routes. The SouthWest Model Railroad Museum, by contrast, focuses on railways in miniature: it is a model railroad museum with layouts in HO and HOn3 scales. The museum is located behind the Doodlebug on Second Street and uses a mobile classroom for its museum and train display. The topics thus range from railway lines and hospitality to the representation of railways in miniature. They differ in perspective: one presents the history of railway operations, while the other focuses on model building.
Art and Remembrance
Through the Flower focuses on art and women's history. The organization was founded in 1977 by Judy Chicago and offers opportunities to learn about women's history through art. Its mission honors women's achievements and aims to inspire social change through art. This combines an educational purpose with an artistic perspective: art serves as a way to explore women's history and as a catalyst for social change.
The Belen 9/11 Memorial Park offers a different focus for remembrance. Work on the park began one month after September 11, 2001. It commemorates the innocent people who lost their lives on that tragic day. Art and remembrance represent different cultural themes here: Through the Flower addresses women's history and social change, while the memorial commemorates the victims of a specific day.
Events Throughout the Year
The festivals also offer specific occasions around which to plan your trip. The World's Largest Matanza takes place at Eagle Park on the last Saturday in January; the date may vary. The Our Lady of Belen Fiestas take place every year in August, although the exact date also varies. The events are spread across different parts of the year, but their exact position on the calendar is not always the same.
Find a Hotel for Your Trip
If you are traveling to Belen for one of these festivals, check the exact date before booking your accommodation. That way, your accommodation plans can follow the reason for your trip rather than a generic tour.
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