The Cardenas family arrived on burros at this spot in El Prado circa 1840. The El Torreon Hacienda was built in 1847. The house was designed as a fort, an enclosed complex for the purpose of safeguarding the few animals at night as well as protection from marauding Indian raiders. Comanche and Apache raiding parties were drawn to the regions rich stores of grain and wheat as well as to steal women and children to offer as slaves to other tribes. It was a common back in that period and practiced by the Spanish as well. At the approach of Indian raiders, muskets were loaded, extra shot and powder brought to the roof of the hacienda to sharp shooters stationed at small firing apertures. Down below in the courtyard, the women heated lard in large, boiling caldrons which would be hauled up to the roof to be poured on the attackers.

One of the unusual features of the hacienda is the torreon, or watch tower located on the south side of the hacienda , complete with firing apertures. Used to spot approaching enemies and to defend the hacienda, torreon’s were a common sight in New Mexico several hundred years ago. The Spanish probably adopted the style and use of the torreons from the numerous Pueblo Indians scattered about the Rio Grande Valley and were in common use by their predecessors, the Anazazi. The torreon at the hacienda has been many things, including a chicken coop for many years. It is the wish of the Cardenas family to maintain the torreon with frequent muddings and to turn it into a shrine or santurario to honor the many people who sacrificed their lives here. Today it stands as a symbol of friendship and peace for all human beings

El Torreon