(KRQE) - The historic Gutierrez-Hubbell House in New Mexico, a key site along the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, has been preserved as a museum and open space after extensive restoration efforts, thanks to local activism. The Gutierrez-Hubbell House, originally a bustling trading post and stagecoach stop, now serves as a museum that highlights New Mexico's rich history. Located along the historic trade route, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the house was once a vital link connecting New Mexico to the outside world during the Spanish colonial era. "That dentro and the trading post and post office was sort of a commercial and social hub for Pajarito," said Esai Ramirez of the Gutierrez-Hubbell House. "It also was a center for cultural exchange, and things like that. So it was a very important, stagecoach stop as well." Following the Civil War, the Gutierrez-Hubbell House was home to James L. Hubbell and his wife Julianita Gutierrez-Hubbell. It served multiple roles, including as a mercantile, trading post, stagecoach stop, and eventually a post office. In 1996, the last descendant of the Gutierrez-Hubbell family passed away, leaving the historic home vacant and vulnerable to looters. The property was nearly developed into a restaurant and subdivision, but the Gutierrez-Hubbell House Alliance fought to preserve its historical significance. Bernalillo County purchased the home in 2000, and after seven years of restoration, it was opened to the public as a museum in 2007. The surrounding 16-acre open space protects wildlife and preserves agricultural heritage. Esai Ramirez explained that the farm continues the agricultural legacy of the family, featuring a heritage orchard with apple trees and an historic acequia, alongside actively cultivated farms. The preservation of the Gutierrez-Hubbell House offers a glimpse into the territorial period of New Mexico, maintaining its legacy as a cultural and historical landmark. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published