Salinas Pueblo Mission National Monument: Gran Quivira Ruins

Pueblos Of The Salinas Valley

     The Salinas Valley Pueblo Ruins are just a few of the many ancient architectural sites that New Mexico has to offer. They are evidence of the communities that lived there over 300 years ago. Before these pueblos were abandoned in the 1670’s, Pueblo Indians had created a stable agricultural society. Two ancient southwestern cultures, the Anasazi and the Mogollon, overlapped in the Salinas Valley to produce the later societies of Abo, Cuervo and Gran Quivira. These groups had roots as far back as 7000 years and were preceded by nomadic people who may have arrived as early as 20,000 years ago.

     Gran Quivira is by far the largest, and possibly the oldest, of the Salinas Pueblo Mission sites. The site, also known as Las Humanas, includes two churches, a cemetery, several kivas, and numerous housing structures with tiny rooms that give new meaning to the term “studio apartment”. In addition to all of this, while walking through the site it is obvious that there is at least as many un-excavated areas as there are excavated areas.
     Due to it’s remote location, Gran Quivira also seems to be the least visited of the three sites. When I was here, I saw only one other small group of visitors.

Driving directions to Gran Quivira

To get there, go to Mountainair and then drive south on NM55 for about 45 minutes. It’s a ways out in the middle of nowhere but absolutely worth the drive, plus you could stop for lunch at the Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair (which has been renovated and is once again open for business) on your way home!
     To view my posts from the other Salinas Pueblo Mission Ruins click here.

These photos were shot on September 15, 2019 and originally published to the Dry Heat Blog on September 24, 2019.