A brief History of Alamos ...

Located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains, Alamos was once the most important colonial city of northern Mexico. Silver was discovered by the Spaniards during the 1600's and over the next 250 years Alamos became the center of government, commerce and culture in this part of the world. As the mines played out in the early 20th century, Alamos nearly became a ghost town.

Discovered again in the 1950's by Americans and Canadians, Alamos began to come back to life as many of its formerly resplendent adobe mansions were restored. Today it is a town of about 9000 inhabitants, with an expatriate community of about 200 households. This colonial, magical setting nestled in the mountains has made the place irresistible to many.

Historically significant...

1531 - Coronado explores the area 1630 Jesuits build a mission near Alamos

1665 - First written Church records

1683 - Silver mines discovered by Spanish near Aduana

1687 - Father Kino gets financing in Alamos for missions in the north (MX, AZ, CA)

1750 - 6000 inhabitant perish from a series of plagues

1776 - DeAnza and 177 people from Alamos settle San Francisco

1781 - 46 people from Alamos settle Los Angeles

1783 - First Bishop of Sonora arrives. Population is over 30,000.

1786 - Construction of present church begins.

1790 - Mining peaks. Alamos becomes one of the worlds highest silver producers.

1827 - Alamos is made the capital of Occidente (Sonora and Sinaloa)

1865 - Alamos is again made the capital under Emperor Maxamillian

1868 - 100 homes destroyed by flood

1909 - Most mines have closed due to revolutions and the rising costs of production

1915 - Pancho Villa's troops enter the town, He calls them off announcing he plans to live in Alamos one day.

1933 - Railroad abandoned. Population has dropped to a few hundred.

1946 - Americans "discover" Alamos and begin to immigrate and restore the colonials buildings.

1989 - Renovation of Hacienda de Los Santos begins.

1994 - Population now approaching 10,000 inclusive of a thriving community of expatriate retirees and artists.

1998 - Hacienda de Los Santos opens, as a Hotel & Spa after a 500,000 hour renovation for the first 12 rooms, suites and other areas.

1999 - Alamos airport upgraded by the Federal and State government.

1999 - Hacienda de Los Santos becomes a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World

2000 - Hacienda de Los Santos completes construction of a 16th Century Andalusian Theater.

2001 - Alamos becomes a National Historic Landmark with 147 buildings on the national register, of which 5 are within the wall of the Hacienda.

2001 - Hacienda de los Santos included in Boutique Hoteles de Mexico.

2005 - Alamos is one of  Mexico's 22 "Pueblo Magicos" as designated by the Federal Government

2007 - The completion of the Hacienda renovation and new construction with nearly 1,200,000 man hours involved in the 19 year project.

2007 - Full time Concierge service added at Hacienda de los Santos.

2007 - A new Silver Mine, and a Copper Mine open. The first new mines in nearly 100 years.

2007 - A totally new highway opens from Navojoa to Alamos.

2008 - A new highway to Alamos from Masiaca is built, plus another started from south of Ciudad Obregon. Both highways will shorten the route to Alamos from Highway 15..