Don Barrett (aka DBs travels)'s photos with the keyword: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

At Gran Quivira mission at the Salina Pueblo National Monument, see nearby picture for description of the monument. At the time I was there, some work was being done on the mortar on the front of the church. One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

The Salinas Pueblo National Monument is three locations relatively close to Mountainair, NM, that were all American Indian settlements dating back to the 1600's or earlier, all with examples of the effect of later the Spanish Catholic missionaries on the local populations. I had heard small bits of information about them being generally remote and little visited, but with interesting artifacts and good documentation, all of which proved to be true. Because they are so lightly visited, and because the reconstruction is done with such care, they provide particularly good opportunities to reflect on our heritage. This first set of photos is of the Gran Quivira mission, which is the most remote of the missions in terms of contemporary access. The placard in this photo gives a good overview. One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

At Gran Quivira mission at the Salina Pueblo National Monument, see nearby picture for description of the monument.

At Gran Quivira mission at the Salina Pueblo National Monument, see nearby picture for description of the monument.

Considering the size of these structures (reconstructed) and the lack of doors, I asked a park ranger for details. She said the men had been about 5'4" and that in many instances they had entered their dwellings through the roof. That's my height, and they looked awfully cramped to me. One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

Appropriate for formerly sacred grounds... One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

Guardian of the pueblo. One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

The church (and visitor center). One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

As indicated by the partial reconstruction near the small tree, the mounds in this picture are the remains of the pueblo. One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

The church at Abo. One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

The church at Quarai. One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

Fairly close to the mission at Gran Quivira is the very small village of Gran Quivira, with this abandoned building that looks like it might have been a business at one time (there were no businesses in the community). One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.

The church from the other side, with foundations from the village on the left side of the screen. Look closely and the scaffolding from the previous picture can be seen at the far end of the church. One of a series of pictures of the Salinas Pueblo National Monument, best viewed as part of New Mexico set.