List of National Historic Landmarks in New Mexico facts for kids
New Mexico is home to many amazing places called National Historic Landmarks (NHLs). These are special spots recognized by the United States government for their incredible importance to American history. Think of them as super important historical sites! New Mexico has 46 of these landmarks, including Raton Pass, which is also partly in Colorado. These landmarks are spread out across 22 of New Mexico's 33 counties, each telling a unique story about the past.
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Cool Historic Landmarks in New Mexico
Let's explore some of these fantastic places that help us learn about New Mexico's rich history.
Ancient Pueblos and Early Settlements
New Mexico has many ancient sites that show us how people lived long ago.
This amazing Native American pueblo is built on top of a 225-foot sandstone mesa. It's one of the oldest places in North America where people have lived continuously! Imagine living in a "sky city" for hundreds of years.
Hawikuh was the largest of the Zuni pueblos and was founded way back in the 1200s. It's a key site for understanding early Pueblo life.
These are ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. You can see where people carved homes right into the sides of cliffs! It's a fascinating look into how early communities built their homes.
This ancient pueblo is about 1,000 years old. It's believed to be the oldest building in North America where people have lived without stopping! It's a multi-story adobe complex divided by the Rio Pueblo de Taos.
- Abó
Here you'll find ruins of an old pueblo and a Spanish mission. It's part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, showing how different cultures met long ago.
Similar to Abó, Quarai also has pueblo and Spanish mission ruins. It's another important part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.
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This is the site of the very first Spanish capital in New Mexico. It's where Spanish settlers first established their government in the region.
- San José de los Jémez Mission and Giusewa Pueblo Site
This site includes the ruins of a Spanish mission and a pueblo, giving us clues about life centuries ago.
Important Buildings and Historic Towns
Located in Santa Fe, this historic area has the oldest house in New Mexico. It also has the oldest Catholic church in the continental United States, the San Miguel Chapel!
Also in Santa Fe, this adobe building started being built in 1610. It was the center of government in New Mexico for hundreds of years. It's the oldest public building in the United States that has been used continuously!
This is the central park in Santa Fe, surrounded by historic buildings. It has been a gathering place for centuries and is a key part of the city's history.
This well-preserved old cow town was the main spot for the famous Lincoln County War. You can even see the old jail where Billy the Kid made his last escape!
This town center is important because it's linked to when the United States took over New Mexico. It's a beautiful historic plaza.
Founded in 1751 by Spanish families, this village is known for its beautiful church, San José de Gracia.
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This mission church in Ranchos de Taos is a famous landmark, known for its unique adobe architecture.
Homes of Famous People and Artists
This was the home of painter Ernest L. Blumenschein, who helped start the Taos Art Colony.
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In Taos, you can find the home of the famous frontiersman, Kit Carson.
This house in Taos was a special place for artists. It belonged to Mabel Dodge Luhan and is now an inn.
This was the home and studio of the famous artist Georgia O'Keeffe in Abiquiu. She loved the New Mexico landscape and painted it often.
- Ernie Pyle House/Library
This was the home of Ernie Pyle, a very famous war reporter.
Sites of Scientific and Military Importance
This national laboratory was a major site for the Manhattan Project. This was a secret project during World War II that developed the first atomic bombs.
This is the exact spot where the very first nuclear weapon was set off. It was a huge moment in history.
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This site at White Sands Missile Range was important for early rocket launches and missile testing.
This was a military post established in 1866, known for being a site where Buffalo Soldiers were stationed.
This site is famous for a raid by Pancho Villa in 1916, which had a big impact on the area.
Natural Landmarks and Trails
This mountain pass was a very important landmark on the Santa Fe Trail, a historic trade route. It's on the border of New Mexico and Colorado.
These two mountain peaks were easy to spot and served as important guides for wagon trains traveling on the Santa Fe Trail.
Another key landmark on the Santa Fe Trail, helping travelers find their way.
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This is where two important routes of the Santa Fe Trail, the Mountain and Cimarron Cutoff routes, came together.
Archaeological Discoveries
This is a very important archaeological site. It's where scientists found evidence of the ancient Clovis culture, which tells us about some of the earliest people in North America.
Another crucial archaeological site, this one is the "type site" for the Folsom tradition. This means it's the main place where scientists learned about this ancient culture.
In this cave, prehistoric tools and artifacts were found. It helps us understand what life was like for people thousands of years ago.
This was a fortified Navajo village site. It was used as a base for trade and even raiding between 1745 and 1812.
This site contains important post-Chaco culture sites, showing how ancient cultures developed after the Chaco period.
This is another archaeological site near Santa Fe, providing more clues about ancient communities.
Other Notable Landmarks
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This was an early 20th-century project to reclaim water, showing how people managed resources.
This railroad is the longest and most complete example of how railroads worked in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It's a fun way to experience history!
This Roman Catholic church is famous for its founding story and is a popular place for pilgrimages today.
This site was where an important battle of the American Civil War took place.
This building in Santa Fe is a beautiful example of Spanish/Pueblo revival architecture.
- San Estevan Del Rey Mission Church
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This church was founded in 1629 and is an important part of the Acoma Pueblo's history.
This historic village was once the home of Ernest Thompson Seton, a famous author and artist.
This complex includes many prehistoric and historic archaeological sites on the Zuni Reservation, showing a long history of human activity.
National Parks and Monuments with Historic Importance
Besides the specific National Historic Landmarks, New Mexico also has several National Parks and Monuments that are super important historically. These places are already highly protected.
This monument protects ancient Pueblo structures in northwestern New Mexico.
This monument includes Frijoles Canyon and has amazing ruins of dwellings, kivas (special ceremonial rooms), rock paintings, and petroglyphs (carvings on rocks).
This park has the largest and most impressive collection of pueblos in the American Southwest. It was a major center for ancient Pueblo people.
This sandstone cliff has a pool of water at its base, making it a welcome oasis in the desert. Many travelers, including early Spanish explorers and American pioneers, left their names and messages carved into the rock, earning it the nickname "Inscription Rock."
This monument protects the ruins of an important fort that was built in 1851. You can still see the ruts from the old Santa Fe Trail here.
These cliff dwellings were built by ancient people between the 1280s and early 1300s. It's incredible to see how they lived high up in the cliffs.
This park includes a large pueblo that was abandoned in the 1800s, as well as parts of the Glorieta Pass Battlefield and a mission.
This monument protects thousands of images carved into rocks by Native peoples and early Spanish settlers. It also has five volcanic cones!
This monument reminds us of the first meetings between Pueblo Indians and Spanish colonists. It has the ruins of four mission churches and an excavated pueblo.
Images for kids
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Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in New Mexico
- List of National Historic Landmarks by state
