For thousands of years, groups of nomads used the caves above Cliff Dweller Creek as temporary shelter. In the late 1200s, people of the agricultural Mogollon (Southern Ancestral Pueblo) culture made it a home. They built rooms, crafted pottery and raised children in the cliff dwellings for one or two generations. By approximately 1300, the Mogollon had moved on, leaving the walls behind.
Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of rugged but beautiful canyon and mesa country. The monument preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans of a later era in the Southwest. Most of the pueblo structures date to two eras, dating between 1150 and 1600 AD.
The Alameda Park Zoo is situated within Alameda Park, which is located at 1321 North White Sands Boulevard in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The Zoo has more than 12 acres and over 250 exotic and indigenous animals. It provides an opportunity to learn about wildlife, conservation, and the importance of preserving biodiversity.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History is a museum and planetarium complex situated on the eastern side of Alamogordo, near the entrance to the White Sands Missile Range. The museum dedicated to artifacts and displays related to space flight and the space age. It includes the International Space Hall of Fame.
The Aztec Ruins National Monument preserves ancestral Pueblo structures in north-western New Mexico. Aztec Ruins has some of the best-preserved Chacoan structures of its kind. Learn more about the ancestral Pueblo people in the park's museum and explore the Aztec West great house to see exceptionally advanced architecture, original wooden beams, and a restored Great Kiva.
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico and serves as its economic, cultural, and transportation hub. Located in the southwestern United States, Albuquerque is known for its rich history, diverse culture, stunning natural surroundings, and unique Southwestern charm. Albuquerque’s 2019 population was at 560,513.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is an American national park in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico. High ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus, and desert wildlife—treasures above the ground in the Chihuahuan Desert. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes.
Taos Pueblo is an ancient pueblo belonging to a Taos speaking Native American tribe of Pueblo people. It is approximately 1000 years old and lies about 1 mile north of the modern city of Taos, New Mexico.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, located 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico (near Cochiti), is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managed site that was established as a U.S. National Monument by President Bill Clinton in January 2001 shortly before leaving office. Kasha-Katuwe means "white cliffs" in the Pueblo language Keresan.
The American International Rattlesnake Museum, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a unique museum dedicated to rattlesnakes and other venomous reptiles. It provides visitors with an opportunity to learn about these fascinating creatures, their biology, their role in ecosystems, and their importance in various cultures.
Petroglyph National Monument is a significant archaeological and cultural site located on the western outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a protected area featuring thousands of ancient petroglyphs etched into volcanic rocks, providing a window into the history and artistry of the Native American people who once inhabited the region.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a prominent cultural institution and museum located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage, history, and traditions of the Pueblo people, who have inhabited the American Southwest for centuries.
An oasis in the desert near Albuquerque, the garden features a conservatory with desert and Mediterranean plants, a butterfly conservatory, and landscaped.
El Santuario de Chimayo is a Roman Catholic church in Chimayo, New Mexico, USA. This shrine, a National Historic Landmark, is famous for the story of its founding and as a contemporary pilgrimage site. At Santuario de Chimayo you find two chapels of historical significance - The Lord of Esquipulas Chapel and the Santo Niño de Atocha Chapel.
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of nuclear science and technology, as well as its impact on society. It provides visitors with a better understanding of the scientific, political, and cultural dimensions of the nuclear age and its implications for the modern world.
The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a renowned institution dedicated to celebrating the life and work of one of America's most iconic artists, Georgia O'Keeffe. Founded in 1997, the museum houses the largest collection of O'Keeffe's work in the world.
