Centuries Later, The Ruins Of These Old Spanish Missions Are Still A Sight To See
By Monica Spencer|Published November 25, 2020
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
History lives in New Mexico’s architecture. Home to sites like the oldest continuously inhabited community, the oldest church, and the oldest house, New Mexico is the ideal location for any history buff. Among those historic buildings are the ruins of 17th-century Spanish missions.
Established to aid in both colonization and conversion, New Mexico’s missions were built next to indigenous communities. Some, like the San Agustín de la Isleta mission, are still in use centuries later. Most, however, have been subjected to the ravages of time. Here is a look at the ruins of five missions located in New Mexico.
1. Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos, Pecos National Historical Park
Located 25 miles east of Santa Fe, this mission is one of the buildings protected by the park. The initial mission was established in 1619 and subsequently damaged in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, when the Pueblo peoples rose up against the Spanish colonizers. The present-day mission seen at the historical park was built in 1717 and eventually abandoned.
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is located about two hours southeast of Albuquerque and preserves the ruins of three missions, pueblos, and other buildings. Referred to simply as Quarai, the mission was built in 1632 but was abandoned in 1675 following a drought and attacks from nearby Apache peoples.
The second mission ruin located at the national monument, this is typically referred to as Gran Quivira. The largest and most isolated of the three mission ruins on the site, Gran Quivira was never actually completed. Construction began in 1629 but was eventually abandoned. The walls here stand 30 feet tall and, unlike the red sandstone used in the construction of the other missions, this one was built with gray limestone.
The third mission ruin is Abó, a 1629 structure constructed around a smaller church built in 1623. Renovations in 1640 expanded the mission to its current size before eventually being abandoned in 1673.
The Jemez Historic Site sits just north of Jemez Springs and preserves what remains of Gíusewa Pueblo and the San José de los Jémez mission. The mission was built next to the pueblo in 1621 but was a short-lived endeavor; the Jemez people left the area for the current location of Jemez Pueblo in 1680.
When visiting historic sites such as these, remember that what remains of these buildings can never be replaced. So be sure to tread lightly, respect boundaries, and do not remove artifacts from the site.
