El Santuario de Chimayo is a stunning National Historic Landmark that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Families fly in from all over the world to take part in the spiritual pilgrimage that this church is known for. While you are visiting the area, use the opportunity to visit some of the museums, historical markers, and Native American sites that dot the region.
Chimayo Museum
Just down the street from Santuario de Chimayo lies the Chimayo Museum which boasts a fascinating collection of artifacts from the area. Inside you’ll find beautiful paintings, hand woven rugs, and charming relics from all across Northern New Mexico. To learn more about the history of the museum and the best things to see read our blog post Everything You Need to Know About the Chimayo Museum.
Los Luceros Historic Site
Just North of Chimayo lies one of New Mexico’s most scenic and historic sites. Explore the 148-acre Los Luceros Ranch which includes an 18th century hacienda house as well as the original chapel, village jail, numerous farm buildings, and a small gallery. The grounds are open Thursdays-Mondays to the public and frequently host environmental education programs, workshops, and seminars.
Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project
Some of the most well preserved petroglyphs in the Southwest are in Velarde, NM. The Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project serves to protect the petroglyphs and provide educational workshops and tours to engage people with the rich history of the area. While diligent volunteers are working to count the exact number of petroglyphs in the area, they suggest that well over 10,000 are hidden in the 181 acres of preserved land. You can take a guided tour to the Wells Petroglyph Preserve with one of their passionate tour guides, but these tours fill up fast and the next reservation period begins January 7th, 2020.
Las Trampas Historic District
Between Santa Fe and Taos lies a small village that was first occupied in 1751 by 12 Spanish families. The grounds held small adobe style buildings, a plaza, and an impressive church that still stands today. The San Jose de Gracia Church is incredibly well preserved with it’s decorative interior, adobe walls, and wooden floors dating back to the 18th century. Learn about the life of the first colonists to inhabit this beautiful region.
Bradbury Science Museum
The Manhattan Project wasn’t a New York building project, but instead a World War II research mission to create the world’s first atomic bomb. During the 1940’s the Lost Alamos National Laboratory worked on top-secret projects for nuclear weapons. You can learn all about the mission, early attempts, research, and the legacy that lives on to this very day at the Bradbury Science Museum.
If you are planning to visit El Sanitario de Chimayo in the stunning Northern New Mexico mountains, add a couple of these incredible preserves, museums, and historic sites to your itinerary.
Ready to tour New Mexico’s historic sites and museums? Book a stay at Casa Escondida, a hacienda-like Bed & Breakfast right next to El Santuario de Chimayo.
