Salinas Pueblo Missions
National Monument

Once, thriving American Indian trade communities of Tiwa and Tompiro speaking Puebloans inhabited this remote frontier area of central New Mexico. Early in the 17th-century Spanish Franciscans found the area ripe for their missionary efforts. However, by the late 1670s the entire Salinas District, as the Spanish had named it, was depopulated of both Indian and Spaniard. What remains today are austere yet beautiful reminders of this earliest contact between Pueblo Indians and Spanish Colonials: the 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.

VISITATION:

Highest in May through August, and October; lowest in December and January National Park Service Visitor Statistics

LOCATION:

Mountainair, New Mexico and environs

ADDRESS:

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Broadway & Ripley
P.O. Box 517
Mountainair, NM 87036

TELEPHONE:

(505) 847-2585

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

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.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Generally mild, dry summers, occasional snow in winter, fierce winds in spring. Walking shoes and sportswear in summer, light outerwear in winter are recommended.

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. Information on the Quarai, Abó, and Gran Quivira ruins, as well as the surrounding area, are provided by National Park Service rangers at all three ruins and park headquarters.

Abó: Ruins are 9 miles west on US 60 and one-half mile north on NM 513. Telephone: (505) 847-2400.

Gran Quivira: Ruins are 26 miles south on NM 55. Telephone: (505) 847-2770.

Quarai: Ruins are 8 miles north on NM 55 and 1 mile west. Telephone: (505) 847-2290.

TRANSPORTATION:

To Park: Air transportation, Amtrak, and bus service to Albuquerque. Access by Interstate Highways (I-40, I-25), state highway (NM 55, NM 60), and National Park Service access roads.

In Park: No commercial transportation. Personal vehicle, bicycle, motorcycle.

FEES, COST, RATES:

No fees charged.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Visitor Center & Exhibits:

The centrally located Mountainair headquarters serves to direct visitors to the three mission units. The headquarters contains a bookstore, exhibit area, and AV program. Contact stations are maintained by rangers at all three units. They offer bookstores, museum and artifact areas, and theme-related artwork. A video orientation program is available at Gran Quivira. A new Visitor Center has been constructed at the Gran Quivira unit.

Trails & Roads:

With Mountainair at the center, US Hwy 60 and NM Hwy 55 intersect roughly at monument headquarters, connecting it with the three Salinas Pueblo ruins sites. Personal vehicles, motorcycles, buses and bicycles utilize these roads.

Lodging and Camping Facilities:

No facilities in park. An historic hotel, several motels, RV sites, and camping sites are located in the surrounding area. Camping available at:

Cibola National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
P.O. Box E
Mountainair, NM 87036
(505) 847-2990

Manzano Mountain State Park
P.O. Box 224
Mountainair, NM 87036
(505)847-2820.

Camping Opportunities Nearby

Programs, Activities:

Ranger-guided tours are available to groups by reservation. A Mighty Mission Junior Ranger program for children, ages 8-12, is available on request. A teacher's kit and guide containing lesson plans and on-site visit activities is available. Contact the park for these materials.

Food & Supplies:

Five local restaurants and a grocery store are located in Mountainair.

Other Concessions:

Southwest Parks and Monuments Association books, posters, and other theme-related interpretive materials are available at headquarters and all three ruins' contact stations.

Accessibility:

All four sites are partially wheelchair accessible. The trail at Abó is hard-surfaced. Handicapped restrooms are available at all sites.

Special Needs:

Braille text available on request at the Abó unit. A captioned AV program is available at Gran Quivira and headquarters. A sign language interpreter is on staff. Parking areas are designated and designed for special needs vehicles.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

Walking the interpretive trail through the missions and pueblos, sight seeing at the three historic sites, picnicking, bird watching and wildflower identification. At the Gran Quivira Unit visitors may also view a one-hour video of the excavation of Mound 7.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Collecting of cultural or natural materials is prohibited. Visitors are urged to stay on trails and designated areas due to the occasional presence of rattlesnakes and to protect the cultural resources. Leashed pets are allowed on the trail.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS

Reservations for school and other large groups should be made in advance. Tours of the rock art at Abó also require advance reservations. Special Use Permits and permits for commercial filming require at least a month's advance notice and a written request to the Superintendent. For additional information concerning reservations, special use, or filming permits, please call (505) 847-2585.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

The average park visit to all three sites requires about an 8 hour day including walking and driving time.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:

Heritage Preservation Week in May offers visitors and students a chance to gain hands-on experience in ruins stabilization. Occasionally, Holy Mass and fiestas are scheduled at specific units. The Gran Quivira Conference is held at the monument every three years. An open house in December offers a book sale and tour of the administrative offices. Special education programs in conjunction with the local schools are scheduled sporadically throughout the school year. Contact the park for more information.

VISITOR IMPACTS:

Weather conditions, road closures, Cibola National Forest fire alerts, and low-flying aircraft information are provided at monument headquarters, as well as the three contact stations.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Approximately 13 miles northwest of Mountainair, Manzano State Park and Manzano Lake offer trout fishing and camping. The Cibola National Forest in the Manzano Mountain Range has six developed campgrounds and 100 miles of hiking and horseback trails; it also includes the Manzano Mountain Wilderness Area. The Pop Shaffer Hotel and Rancho Bonito, located in Mountainair, are on the National Register of Historic Places and offer outstanding expressions of 1920s and 30s folk art. The Salt Mission Trail is a scenic driving tour.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write Monument Headquarters
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
P.O. Box 517
Mountainair, NM 87036
or call (505) 847-2585
E-Mail to:sapu_ranger_activities@nps.gov

Last Updated:Tuesday, 22-Dec-98 11:39:38
http://www.nps.gov/sapu/

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