Las Trampas was founded in 1751 by a royal land grant, entitled Santo Tomás Apostol del Río de las Trampas ("Saint Thomas, Apostle of the River of Traps"). Despite the heavy toll taken by a smallpox epidemic and raids by Plains Indians, the village survived and the settlers managed to build the magnificent San José de Gracia Churchcompleted in 1776.

The church is considered a model of the Spanish colonial church architecture found throughout New Mexico. It has lovely reredosor altar screens, painted by well-known santerostraditional artists who paint saints. The church is a National Historic Landmark, and the village is a is a National Historic District. The building across from the church with the little bell tower was the school.