Albuquerque’s Old Town is a quaint historic area just west of Downtown and east of the Rio Grande. Founded in 1706 by a procession of Spanish settlers, its narrow streets and alleyways have changed little since those early days. When the railroad came to Albuquerque in the 1880s, it brought an influx of people to the new downtown, and locals began calling this older area “Old Town.” Today, Old Town’s revitalized growth brings tourists and locals to visit its museums, shops and restaurants. It also has the city’s oldest church.