Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, New Mexico

Gran Quivira Ruins, Salinas Pueblo Mission National Monument
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Granruins.JPG
Author: Nationalparks


Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is a protected heritage site in Torrance County and Socorro County, New Mexico. It preserves the ruins of structures where the Pueblo Indians and Spanish Colonials established their early contacts in the early 17th century.

The area was originally inhabited by the Tiwa and Tompiro groups of Puebloan-speaking Native Americans. Franciscan missionaries arrived there in the early part of the 17th century and began mission efforts which lasted till the late 1670's. Today the site includes the ruins of three mission churches at Quarai, Abó and Gran Quivira.

Quarai Ruins, Salinas Pueblo Mission National Monument
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quarairuin.JPG
Author: Nationalparks


The original site was proclaimed the Gran Quivira National Monument on 1 November, 1909. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 15 October, 1966. The national monument was expanded in size on 19 December, 1980. Then, on 2 November, 1981, two state monuments were added to it, bringing its total area to 1,076.9 acres (435.8 ha). On 28 October, 1988, it was renamed Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument to reflect the characteristics of the expanded site.

Visiting Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, New Mexico

The visitor center of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is located at Mountainair, to the southeast of Albuquerque. Coming from Albuquerque, take Interstate 25 (aka US Highway 60/85), turning off at Exit 175 to US Highway 60 heading east till you arrive at the site on your left.

From there, if you continue on to Mountainair - where the visitor center is located - and proceed south on State Route 55, you will reach another of the Salinas Pueblo Missions site. There are no entrance fees charged here.

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