New Mexico's Loretto de las Cruces Center

Las Cruces was founded in 1849. Legend has it that the settlement was named after three crosses that once stood at the north end of town, although this isn't known for certain. The English translation of Las Cruces is "the crosses." LORETTO DE LAS CRUCES CENTER was named in honor of The Sisters of Loretto. They taught at the Loretto Academy, which once stood at the northwest corner of the mall site. 

Graphic from Loretto Development Company, Incorporated

The Loretto Academy, a Catholic girl's school and convent, was completed in 1890. It operated as an educational institution until 1943 and then housed a Franciscan monastery. The structure was demolished in 1959.

Photo from the Casasola Photograph Collection / C. L. Sonnichsen Special Collections Department  / University of Texas at El Paso Library

The Don Nestor Armijo House was adjacent to the Loretto Academy. The residence, built in 1867, was the first 2-story building in Las Cruces. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 1976.

 Photo from Wikipedia / "Alexrk2"

A Lubbock-based Dunlap's department store opened -as the first operational LORETTO DE LAS CRUCES tenant- in March 1965. Dunlap's would anchor the north end of the mall for over 7 years.

Graphic from the Dunlap Company