There are many natural wonders in the Land of Enchantment, from supervolcanoes to massive gorgeous, deep dark caverns, and everything in between. However, humans have made their own impressive marks on our state as well. These 10 impressive man made landmarks in New Mexico will fill you with a sense of wonder and should be added to any travel bucket list!

1. Spaceport America, near Truth or Consequences
Spaceport America Boulevard, Spaceport America Blvd, New Mexico 87901, USA
Flickr/kristi welton-kidder
Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built, commercial spaceport, is definitely a wonder. The State of New Mexico actually owns the facility, although Virgin Galactic is the anchor tenant, with a 20 year lease. As impressive man made landmarks in New Mexico go, this one definitely fits the bill!
2. Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, near Taos
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, New Mexico 87529, USA
Flickr/Bart Hanlon
While nature is responsible for the astounding gorge views, humans maximized them with this marvel of engineering. The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
3. Taos Pueblo, Taos
Taos Pueblo, NM, USA
Flickr/Dan Costin
There aren't many sites in the U.S. where people have been living for roughly a thousand. In fact, the adobe structures at Taos Pueblo date back to between 1000 and 450 A.D. Estimates vary, but it is believed that there are roughly 150 full-time inhabitants who continue to live in these buildings today.
4. Chaco Culture National Historic Park, near Nageezi
Chaco Culture National Historical Park Visitor Center, 1808 County Road 7950, Nageezi, NM 87037, USA
Flickr/mksfca
The Chacoans were extremely organized, creating a center of civilization that contained the tallest buildings in this country until the 19th century! At the Chaco Culture National Historic Park, one of the most most beautiful places in New Mexico, you get a sensse of the scale of the original buildings whiich are awe-inspiring, given the date of construction. Pueblo Bonito was four stories high and had hundreds of rooms. Even the roads leading into Chaco were massive for the time; they were 30 feet wide.
5. Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque
Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque, NM 87122, USA
Mike McBey/Flickr
The well-known and loved Sandia Peak Tramway is 2.7 miles long and the ride lasts for 15 minutes. Cars carry passengers over plunging canyons until they reach the Sandia Peak, which is at an altitude of 10,378 feet. The logistics required to construct this tramway are mind-blowing, making it one of the most impressive man made landmarks in New Mexico.

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6. The town of La Mesilla, near Las Cruces
Flickr/Jasperdo
Mesilla, NM, USA
Flickr/Jasperdo
New Mexico has a number of well-preserved towns that feel frozen in time, and the town of La Mesilla is one of the most charming hidden gems in New Mexico. The town was founded around 1848 and the Mesilla Plaza is actually a national historic landmark.
7. Elephant Butte Lake and Dam, Elephant Butte
Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico 87901, USA
Flickr/Tim Kuzdrowski
Elephant Butte Lake and Dam are together a national historic civil engineering landmark. The Lake is actually the largest lake in New Mexico, offering a wide array of activities year-round.
8. Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
Flickr/Rennett Stowe
Although New Mexico is filled with beautiful churches, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of most impressive religious buildings in the state. The current building is not the first church to stand on this site, but its Romanesque architecture is both attractive and imposing. Due to cash flow issues, the cathedral has never had spires. A chapel within the basilica houses the oldest Madonna statue in the nation!
9. Earthships, near Taos
Earthship Biotecture, 2 Earthship Way, Tres Piedras, NM 87577, USA
Flickr/R0Ng
These off-the-grid homes are both captivating and eco-friendly. Earthships have been around since the 1970s but their sustainable architecture stands the test of time. If you're looking for magnificent man made landmarks in New Mexico, they don't get any more grandiose than these.
10. Tinkertown, Sandia Park
Tinkertown Museum, 121 Sandia Crest Rd, Sandia Park, NM 87047, USA
Flickr/Pam Falcioni
Forget building codes and embrace whimsy at the Tinkertown Museum in Sandia Park, a folk art edifice turned tourist attraction. This is architecture at its most entertaining!

Have you visited any of these man made landmarks in New Mexico? Which impressed you the most? We’d love to see your photos and hear about your experiences!

If you’d like to delve more into the mystery and beauty that is New Mexico, check out this article sharing some of the natural wonders dotted all over the state.

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Man Made Landmarks in New Mexico

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | July 22, 2022

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