New Mexico is a sprawling land, matched only by the range of its history and cultures. Spanning nearly 122,000 square miles, the state is the fifth largest in the country. This expansive landscape is etched with the stories of thousands of years of history.
New Mexico Historic Sites maintain and preserve that history, making them accessible to anyone who lives in or visits the state. They are footprints, left by the people of New Mexico in mountain paths and city streets. The sites preserve and share stories from the state’s histories and cultures, serving as a bridge from the past to our collective future. Visit a historic site and soak in New Mexico’s striking settings.
Bosque Redondo Memorial
at Fort Sumner Historic Site
A unique museum designed by Navajo architect David Sloan — shaped like a hogan and a tepee — and an interpretive trail, provide information about the tragic history of Fort Sumner and Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation.
Coronado Historic Site
Kuaua was a Tiwa village in the central Rio Grande valley when Francisco Vásquez de Coronado entered the area in 1540. It was established around 1325 A.D. and grew to a population of 1,200 people by the 16th century.
Fort Selden Historic Site
Fort Selden preserves more than 1,400 years of history beginning with the ancient Mogollon; travelers camping at the site on El Camino Real in the 17th century; the U.S. army soldiers in the 1800s; to the local people who lived nearby. Their stories enrich the history and heritage of New Mexico.
Fort Stanton Historic Site
Fort Stanton is situated on 240 acres and surrounded by 25,000 acres of undeveloped Bureau of Land Management land in south-central New Mexico. There are 88 structures on this historic site, some dating back to 1855.
Jemez Historic Site
A short drive from Albuquerque and Bernalillo, the Jemez National Historic Landmark is one of the most beautiful historic sites in the Southwest. It includes the stone remnants of a 700-year-old village and the San José de Los Jemez church dating to 1621.
Lincoln Historic Site
A town made famous by one of the most violent periods in New Mexico history. See the Old Courthouse with exhibits detailing the Lincoln County War. Walk in the footsteps of Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and other notorious figures of the Wild West.
Los Luceros Historic Site
Featuring beautiful river views, ancient cottonwoods, 17th-century buildings, apple orchards, farm animals, and rolling agricultural fields, this property embodies the intersection of nature and culture in northern New Mexico. Travel back in time to a place that has been called home since the 1400s.
Plan your visit to New Mexico Historic Sites
Individual historic sites maintain different hours of operation. Visit nmhistoricsites.org for hours, admission, and locations for each site. New Mexico CulturePass is also a great way to see all of New Mexico’s historic sites. For $30, CulturePass admits you to eight museums and seven historic sites across the state, from Santa Fe to Las Cruces.
Story by Bud Russo • Graphics and images courtesy New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs
Story sponsored by the NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
This article was posted by Cheryl Fallstead
