Once thriving with American Indian trade communities of Tiwa and Tompiro speaking Puebloans, this remote area of central New Mexico was rapidly overpopulated in the early 17th-century by Spanish Franciscans. They were attempting to convert the residents of the region, but by 1677 the entire Salinas District was depopulated of both Indian and Spaniard alike.
What remains today are austere yet beautiful reminders of the early contact between Pueblo Indians and Spanish Colonials. There are ruins of four mission churches, at Quarai, Abó, and Gran Quivira and the partially excavated pueblo of Las Humanas or, as it is known today, Gran Quivira. Established in 1980 through the combination of two New Mexico State Monuments and the former Gran Quivira National Monument, the present Monument comprises a total of 1,100 acres.
The Basics
Hours:
Daily-summer hours (Memorial Day - Labor Day): 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Winter hours (rest of the year): 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Address:
P.O. Box 517
Mountainair, NM 87036
Phone:
505-847-2585
Map
Directions
The Mountainair headquarters can be reached by taking I-25 south from Albuquerque to Belen, then NM 47 diagonally to US 60, then east 21 miles to Mountainair. To travel the historic highway route from the north, take I-40 east from Albuquerque to NM 337, drive south 54 miles to Mountainair.
Abó: Ruins are 9 miles west on US 60 and one-half mile north on NM 513.
Gran Quivira: Ruins are 26 miles south on NM 55.
Quarai: Ruins are 8 miles north on NM 55 and 1 mile west.
Climate
Generally mild, dry summers, occasional snow in winter, fierce winds in spring. Walking shoes and sportswear in summer, light outerwear in winter are recommended.
Walking the interpretive trail through the missions and pueblos, sight seeing at the three historic sites, visit the museums,picnicking, bird watching and wildflower identification.
Take a moment to explore the Teaching with Historic Places lesson plan and supporting material created to help tell the story of the park.
