History lives in New Mexico’s architecture. Home to sites like the oldest continuously inhabited community, the oldest church, and the oldest house, New Mexico is the ideal location for any history buff. Among those historic buildings are the ruins of 17th-century Spanish missions.
Established to aid in both colonization and conversion, New Mexico’s missions were built next to indigenous communities. Some, like the San Agustín de la Isleta mission, are still in use centuries later. Most, however, have been subjected to the ravages of time. Here is a look at the ruins of five missions located in New Mexico.
- Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos, Pecos National Historical Park
katie weilbacher/Flickr Located 25 miles east of Santa Fe, this mission is one of the buildings protected by the park. The initial mission was established in 1619 and subsequently damaged in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, when the Pueblo peoples rose up against the Spanish colonizers. The present-day mission seen at the historical park was built in 1717 and eventually abandoned. Details: nps.gov
- Mission Nuestra Señora de Purísima Concepción de Quarai, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Jasperdo/Flickr Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is located about two hours southeast of Albuquerque and preserves the ruins of three missions, pueblos, and other buildings. Referred to simply as Quarai, the mission was built in 1632 but was abandoned in 1675 following a drought and attacks from nearby Apache peoples. Details: nps.gov
- Mission San Buenaventura de Humanas, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Jasperdo/Flickr The second mission ruin located at the national monument, this is typically referred to as Gran Quivira. The largest and most isolated of the three mission ruins on the site, Gran Quivira was never actually completed. Construction began in 1629 but was eventually abandoned. The walls here stand 30 feet tall and, unlike the red sandstone used in the construction of the other missions, this one was built with gray limestone. Details: nps.gov
- Mission San Gregorio de Abó, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Jade/Flickr The third mission ruin is Abó, a 1629 structure constructed around a smaller church built in 1623. Renovations in 1640 expanded the mission to its current size before eventually being abandoned in 1673. Details: nps.gov
- Mission San José de los Jémez, Jemez Historic Site
Sarah Stierch/Flickr The Jemez Historic Site sits just north of Jemez Springs and preserves what remains of Gíusewa Pueblo and the San José de los Jémez mission. The mission was built next to the pueblo in 1621 but was a short-lived endeavor; the Jemez people left the area for the current location of Jemez Pueblo in 1680. Details: nmhistoricsites.org
When visiting historic sites such as these, remember that what remains of these buildings can never be replaced. So be sure to tread lightly, respect boundaries, and do not remove artifacts from the site.
katie weilbacher/Flickr
Located 25 miles east of Santa Fe, this mission is one of the buildings protected by the park. The initial mission was established in 1619 and subsequently damaged in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, when the Pueblo peoples rose up against the Spanish colonizers. The present-day mission seen at the historical park was built in 1717 and eventually abandoned. Details: nps.gov
Jasperdo/Flickr
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is located about two hours southeast of Albuquerque and preserves the ruins of three missions, pueblos, and other buildings. Referred to simply as Quarai, the mission was built in 1632 but was abandoned in 1675 following a drought and attacks from nearby Apache peoples. Details: nps.gov
The second mission ruin located at the national monument, this is typically referred to as Gran Quivira. The largest and most isolated of the three mission ruins on the site, Gran Quivira was never actually completed. Construction began in 1629 but was eventually abandoned. The walls here stand 30 feet tall and, unlike the red sandstone used in the construction of the other missions, this one was built with gray limestone. Details: nps.gov
Jade/Flickr
The third mission ruin is Abó, a 1629 structure constructed around a smaller church built in 1623. Renovations in 1640 expanded the mission to its current size before eventually being abandoned in 1673. Details: nps.gov
Sarah Stierch/Flickr
The Jemez Historic Site sits just north of Jemez Springs and preserves what remains of Gíusewa Pueblo and the San José de los Jémez mission. The mission was built next to the pueblo in 1621 but was a short-lived endeavor; the Jemez people left the area for the current location of Jemez Pueblo in 1680. Details: nmhistoricsites.org
Interested in learning about other historic areas around the state? Read The 7 Oldest Buildings In New Mexico Where Time Stands Still for a quick primer on other structures loaded with history.
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Address: Pecos National Historical Park, 1 NM-63, Pecos, NM 87552, USAAddress: 105 S Ripley Ave, Mountainair, NM 87036, USAAddress: 18160 NM-4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025, USA
