Only in Your State | New Mexico |by Monica Spencer
Most people don’t realize it, but New Mexico reigns supreme when it comes to historic sites. In fact, we are home to the oldest city, the oldest church, one of the oldest homes, and some of the oldest communities in the country.
The Acoma Pueblo, similar to other pueblos around the state, is most likely the oldest continuously inhabited community in the country.
Anthropologists estimate the people of Acoma have been living in the area for at least 800 years while tribal members estimate it to be closer to 2,000 years.
The pubelo is located about one hour west of Albuquerque, just off a quiet state highway, and is actually made up of four different villages: Acomita, Anzac, McCartys, and Old Acoma, also called Sky City.
The Old Acoma or “Sky City” village sits perched on a steep mesa, where the adobe buildings appear to blend with the landscape. It offers a perfect view of the land surrounding the village and, at one point in time, safety from enemies.
Approximately 300 adobe buildings sit atop the mesa without electricity or running water, but only a few dozen people continue to live in the village permanently. Others live in neighboring towns and cities for work and school but return for feast days or family events.
The history is rich for this village. It’s been home to generation after generation, living off the land, protecting their people, and honoring their ancestors.
One significant historical event involves contact with Europeans, who influenced the build of the San Estevan del Rey Mission, which dates to 1629. That is when it’s original construction first began. The structure is tall yet composed of modest adobe construction like the homes surrounding it and the mission has surprisingly stayed the same over the centuries with few repairs.
The village and mission are open to the public via guided tours. You also can spend some time wandering the Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum, where you will see a variety of exhibits that details the lives and history of the Acoma and Indigenous peoples.
The center also hosts various cultural events and workshops aimed at cultural revitalization. These include beginner pottery workshops, an annual cycle event called the Tour de Acoma, movie screenings, and more. It’s definitely a piece of history worth looking into!
Acoma Pueblo and Sky City Cultural Center are located approximately one hour west of Albuquerque, via Interstate 40 and State Route 23. For details about visiting, check out acomaskycity.org or their Facebook page.
