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10 Monuments & Statues in New Mexico That You Shouldn't Miss
With its rich cultural heritage from Native American and Spanish settlers, New Mexico has been both a Spanish colony and a Mexican colony, and still retains a strong individual identity within the United States. The landscape is breathtaking, the food incredible, and there is a thriving cultural scene, all of which makes New Mexico, and Santa Fe in particular, a great place all year long.
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1. White Sands National Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,059 reviews
Visitors to this endless waterless sea can enjoy driving, hiking, visiting a museum and sledding down the huge dunes.
Reviewed By waynefromcali - Yucaipa, United States
Like an ocean wave of rare white crystal gypsum sand-White Sands National Monument in the desert of New Mexico is known for dramatic landscapes of rare white gypsum sand dunes.In 2019 White Sands National Monument was redesignated White Sands National Park by The United States Department of the Interior Office of National Parks. . . . . . #whitesands #newmexico #desert #nationalparks #usdeptoftheinterior #hiking #natgeoyourshot #natgeomyshot #whitesandsnationalpark #dunes #sanddunes #ilovesanddunes #route66 #alamagordo #albuquerque #deserthighway #ilovenewmexico #leicacameras #hasslebladcameras #canon #nikon #sonycameras #film
2. Ethyl the Whale
3. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 312 reviews
The Memorial was dedicated in 1971 and was the first major Vietnam memorial in the United States. In 1987 Congress recognized the site as a memorial of national significance. Our visitor center features educational exhibits. The grounds are a peaceful and beautiful backdrop for the Chapel.
Reviewed By Ambassador734578 - Denver, United States
I stopped by to visit the memorial and found it to be beautiful and peaceful. It is well kept. Little gardens mark the paths that lead around the entire area. The names of our fallen soldiers are listed on the bricks that make up the sides of the path. There is a helicopter sitting on the ground for you to look inside, if you like. The memorial is easy to get to and was done in a beautiful setting. I see that they are putting in a new veterans cemetery down over the hill from the memorial.
4. Free Spirits at Noisy Water
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
This monumental outdoor sculpture depicts eight bronze horses, each weighing 3,000-5,000 pounds, running majestically through a wild landscape.
Reviewed By localexplorernm - Bent, United States
1. Because this is not just sculptures but a beautiful garden, with benches and probably a good spot for a picnic on the grass with young kids. 2. Becase The Billy The Kid Scenic Byway Visitors Center is within walking distance. 3. Because the Hubbard Museum of the American West is also within walking distance. 4. Because the views from there are what the southwest is all about. 5. The sculptures are impressive in size and detail 5. This is a pet-friendly stop
5. Cross of the Martyrs
6. Jemez Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 142 reviews
A short drive from Albuquerque and Bernalillo, the Jemez National Historic Landmark is one of the most beautiful prehistoric and historic sites in the Southwest. It includes the stone ruins of a 700 year old village and the San José de los Jemez church dating to 1621. The village of Giusewa was built in the narrow San Diego Canyon by the ancestors of the present-day people of Jemez Pueblo. The visitor center contains exhibitions that tell the story of the site through the words of the Jemez people. A 1,400-foot interpretive trail winds through the impressive site ruins.
Reviewed By SisuTravelor - Skanee, United States
A visit at pueblo site and museum is well worth the time and the small entrance fee. The museum does a fine job of educating visitors about the indigenous people who lived in the Jemez canyon at this pueblo ... both prior to and after the arrival of the Spaniards.
7. Coronado Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 243 reviews
Reviewed By LaurettaYoung - Portland, United States
The exhibits are very well done. Especially the actual Kiva pairings which were removed from original excavation. The tour was informative with the ability to enter the restored kiva. Learning about the history of the native peoples gave me such an appreciation of their hard work and ingenuity. So sad to read about the Spanish enslavement and killing of peaceful farmers with the extinction of their customs and spiritual beliefs. this really was worth a couple of hours with the video, exhibits, tour and walk along the Rio Grande. Thank you to our tour guide!
8. Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 185 reviews
Reviewed By OBIDOCRL - Chattanooga, United States
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is a NPS site consisting of three different, but related ancient pueblos and old Spanish missions dating back to the early 1600s. The three sections/areas are known as Abo' Ruins, Gran Quivira Ruins and Quarai Ruins. We only had time to visit the Gran Quivira and Abo' Ruins, but each was great and pretty well preserved considering their age. We visited the Gran Quivira Ruins first. This one has a small visitor's center with a small, but nice collection of artifacts that came from that particular site. The ruins themselves are quite large and there is a trail which goes through them. The ruins here consist of both the old Spanish Mission as well as the Indian Pueblo itself. If you are into photography like myself, you will really enjoy walking through the ruins and taking shots of them at various angles, etc. After going through Gran Quivira, we then proceeded to the Abo' Ruins. These ruins are not as vast or spread out as Gran Quivira, but are nonetheless still very spectacular. I thoroughly enjoyed photographing these ruins as well. This site also has a small visitor's center which appeared larger than the one at Gran Quivira, but it was closed by the time we arrived so we could not go through it. Besides the main mission and ruins here at Abo', there are a couple of other smaller sites which have some base ruins of older Indian pueblos dating as far back as the 13th and 14th centuries according to the signs along the trails. If you go into the small town of Mountain Air itself, there is another larger visitor's center that is the main one where you can view a short film on the three sites and see more artifacts from the area. They also have a small bookstore/gift shop with some nice items and books on the sites. The rangers here were especially friendly and helpful. All three sites are located kind of in the middle of nowhere, so to speak, as it is a secluded and sparsely inhabited area of New Mexico which is about an hour's drive southeast of Albuquerque. I highly recommend a visit to Salinas Pueblo Missions NM if you are in the area and are into ancient North American history and/or photography as well.
9. Fort Union National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 156 reviews
Reviewed By RondaTravelTime - Maricopa, United States
Authenticity! Enjoy the visionary past as you stroll along the Santa Fe Trail, visualize the events on the parade grounds, and observe the military housing where troops prepare for invading native tribes and Civil War battles of the Southwest! Staff is knowledgeable and congenial while keeping the structures in pristine condition! Worth every inch of the eight mile drive from the interstate.
10. New Mexico History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,435 reviews
The New Mexico History Museum is a statewide educational resource, local landmark, and destination for anyone who wants to understand the diverse experiences of the people of New Mexico, the dynamics that have shaped our state, and the relationships that connect our region with the rest of the world. The New Mexico History Museum offers a welcoming place for exploration of multifaceted views on history, dialog that bridges social and cultural divides, and reflection on the conditions needed for a more resilient, just, and sustainable future. The New Mexico History Museum highlights include the historic Palace of the Governors built in 1610, the Fray Angelico Chavez Library (1907), the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives and the Pete V. Domenici Building (2009) which houses three levels of gallery exhibits .
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