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PO Box 418, Pecos, NM 87552-0418
Phone: 505-757-6414
Fax: 505-757-8460
Open All Year
Overview. For at least 10,000 years, humans have inhabited this area 25 miles southeast of Santa Fe. By the 16th century, the Pecos Indians had long established a thriving culture. In 1540, the Spanish explorer Coronado made first contact with this Native American group. Over the next three centuries the Pecos experienced Franciscan attempts to Christianize them, the devastating effects of European diseases, and warfare with plains Indians. In 1838, the last remaining Pecos moved to Jemez Pueblo. Today this newly expanded park, on the edge of the Santa Fe National Forest, includes the ruins of the ancient Pecos pueblo, two Spanish missions, Santa Fe Trail stops, and the Civil War battle site of Glorieta Pass.
What to see and do. Your one-to-two-hour trip to this park should begin at the visitor center, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (until 6 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day). After watching a ten-minute captioned film to refresh your historical sense of the area, have a look at the artifact exhibits. Pick up your interpretive trail pamphlet and continue outside. Because you're at 7,000 feet, be prepared for snow in winter and windy springs. One and a quarter miles of trail take you through two mission ruins and the 15th-century remains of the Pecos' five-story, 660-room pueblo. Some of the remains have been reconstructed, so you can get an idea of how the buildings originally looked. Almost 80 percent of the trail is wheelchair accessible.
During summertime, inquire about special weekend cultural demonstrations. If you visit the first Sunday in August, you may participate in the Feast Day Mass said in honor of Our Lady of the Angels, the Pecos' patron saint. This mass is a good example of two cultures, Spanish and Native American, existing side by side.
In 1990 the park was expanded to 6,600 acres; not all of the areas are yet open. Check at the visitor center for new attractions. Guided tours are available for groups with advance reservations.
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Please call ahead to confirm details. We do our best to give you current information, but facts can change. Please let us know if you find something's changed.
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