Barelas lies between Coal Avenue, the railroad tracks and the Rio Grande. It was formally established in 1662 at an important river crossing on the Camino Real, and later grew around the Santa Fe Railway shops. Since the National Hispanic Cultural Center opened in 2000, the neighbourhood has seen new investment. Its old railyard has been a busy film location.
Questions people ask
Why is it called Barelas?
The name is thought to come from a local landowner named Pedro Varela (or Barela).