Rio Grande River...
Rio Grande Gorge
El Moro National Monument...
The Arrival of the Spaniards from MexicoIn 1536 Cabeza de Vaca and three other survivors of a shipwreck on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico wandered for eight years across Texas and New Mexico. While traveling, "They met civilized Indians who told tales of Indians farther north who had great wealth and lived in large cities." To the Spaniards who had seen great wealth in Mexico and Peru this meant gold and silver.
In 1540 Coronado began his expedition to look for the "Seven Cities of Gold" that had been reported by the survivors of de Vaca's group. After two years of exploration Coronado and his men became disappointed in not finding the wealth they had expected. Only a few Franciscan Friars were to venture into New Mexico for the next 50 years.
In 1598 an actual settlement of San Gabriel was started by Don Juan de Oñate. Along with colonists were ten friars for the conversion of the Indians. The First Mission was built in New Mexico. This was five years before Jamestown and 22 years before Plymouth! This was the start of the Spanish Missions which were built 100 years before the Missions of California. All of these early missions were built within the Pueblo villages and many of these missions are still standing today.Historic Rock Art...
El Moro National Monument
The Design of the New Mexico Missions...
St. Francis of Assisi (c.1780)... Rancho de Taos
The Early Missions...
The "Cities that Died of Fear"...
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument...Gran Quivira... San Isidro (1620) and
Abó... Mission San Gregorio (1630)
Quarai (c.1633)... Mission La Concepción (1643)Pecos National Historic Park...
Mission (before 1625) and Pecos Pueblo
Jemez State Monument...
Giusewa Pueblo - San José Mission (c.1626)
Existing Pueblos with Missions...
Taos Pueblo - San Geronimo (1706)
Isleta Pueblo - San Agustin Mission (before 1629)
Acoma Pueblo - San Estevan Mission, (before 1644)
Historic Churches
El Santuario de Chimayo
Church of San José de Gracia
St. Francis of Assisi
