From the Rocky Mountains to the West Coast and on up to Alaska, there are thousands of historic structures and archaeological sites within the National Park System. They range from homesteader cabins to prehistoric cave dwellings. Taking care of these buildings in archaeological sites is a valuable job for the National Park Service.
Near Mountainair, are the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument’s three units: Quarai, Gran Quivira and Abó. These three places have 17th-century Spanish mission architecture, original pueblo architecture and panoramic views of the Manzano Mountains. “Historically, the emphasis was on the churches because in its own right, still standing examples of 17th century Spanish mission architecture
Discover Salinas Pueblo Missions in Mountainair, New Mexico: The remains of Abó, Gran Quivera, and Qurai are monuments to the long, complicated history of the Indigenous people of the Southwest.
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The ties to Native Americans that link New Mexico to centuries in the past are well-known.
Chaco Canyon, near Farmington, of course. The Gila Cliff Dwellings near Silver City. The Salinas Pueblo Missions ruins of Gran Quivira, Quarai and Abó near Mountainair. The plethora of petroglyphs spread from one side of the state to the other.
Cruising through the desert backcountry provides ample opportunity for exploration and discovery.
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Such is the case of the oft-overlooked, but subtlety exquisite Casamero Pueblo, about 20 miles west of Grants.
“Initially, when you walk up on it, the highest wall is mid-chest high,” said Sean Daugherty, Bureau of Land Management archeologist. “But that doesn’t really tell the whole story about it. What is striking is when you look closely at it and start studying it.”