Only in Your State | New Mexico | June 14, 2020 | by Monica Spencer

Have you ever wondered what life in New Mexico was like centuries ago? New Mexico is rich in history, and the Jemez Historic Site is one of the better preserved, oldest villages still standing. The site is just a short drive from Albuquerque and has been preserved to show how this Pueblo village appeared centuries ago and what life was like living inside.

Dated to be approximately 700 years old, Jemez Historic Site is home to an impressive ancestral site once home to the Jemez Pueblo people.

Called Ginsewa—a Towa word for “hot springs”—this pueblo was constructed around 1350 A.D.

In the 16th century, the Spaniards arrived in the area and began sending missionaries to the location. They later built a church and mission in the area in an effort to convert the local people, called the San José de los Jemez church, which dates back to 1621/2.

Following the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the pueblo was abandoned so the Indigenous people could relocate to the current location of Jemez Pueblo.

Historians believe the stonewall structures were constructed around the same time the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock.

For centuries, the area went unnoticed until Americans spotted the ruins and began excavations of the site.

One example is the annual lighting of farolitos/luminarias in the days leading up to Christmas. This creates a stunning image with a low, warm glow all over the site.Jemez Historic Site is located just outside Jemez Springs, approximately one and a half hours northwest of Albuquerque.

Here are the ruins in an 1877 photo prior to any preservation or restoration, with stones loose and exposed.

Throughout the year, the historic site is home to some incredible events. And it is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. when COVID bans are lifted.

Admission is $5 per person, although discounts are available. For additional information, visit the site’s website or Facebook page.

Website: NM Historic Sites
Facebook: New Mexico Historic Sites
Location: Google Maps
Phone: 575-829-3530