Acoma Pueblo is arguably one of the best pueblos in New Mexico. In fact, Sky City is another popular name. The pueblo is located on I-40. It is approximately one-hour west from Albuquerque and one-hour east of Gallup. The pueblo is on a mesa about 370 feet above the desert floor. As a matter of fact, the 270 acres pueblo is occupied by four communities. The four communities are Anzac, McCarty’s, Sky City and Acomita. Of note, the Federal Government recognized the community as a tribal community.
My first visit to the Acoma Pueblo was a wonderful adventure. I am sharing that experience in my blog. As a result, you should visit the area after reading this article.
Site of old Sky City
On approaching the Acoma Pueblo, I came across a place that was the old Sky City. This location was the former site of the original city. According to an old
legend. Lightning destroyed the city on the mesa. Two individuals were stranded on the mesa during the storm. A narrow pathway along the mountain side was the only pathway to access the mesa. The lighting storm destroyed the pathway. As a result, the two people at the top of the mesa jumped to their death. According to rumors’ the dead persons became several hundred butterflies. To this day, numerous butterflies are in the vicinity of the old sky city.
Entrance to cultural Center of Acoma Pueblo
The Sky City Cultural Center is at the base of the Acoma Pueblo mesa. As a matter of fact, the center is the entrance to the Pueblo. Native American music at the cultural center welcomes you. In fact, the center is the home of the Haak’u Museum. Equally important, are the two beautiful art galleries. The first gallery contains the art and the way of life of the Acoma people. Several beautiful paintings dis
play the pueblo way of life. In addition, there is also a documentary explaining the history of the code talkers. They became famous during world
war II. The coded talkers’ responsibilities included the transmission of coded messages to the front lines. This was done in in their local dialect to avoid
detection.
The other gallery had a wide range of beautiful pottery on display. An article on creating pottery caught my attention. I found the a
rticle remarkably interesting as it demonstrated the art of pottery from ancient to modern times.
We purchased tickets at the front desk for the next guided tour of the pueblo. As a result, the cultural center provided a short drive to the top of the mesa. The buildings of the pueblo was impressive. The structures were amazing and beautiful. To summarize the history and origin of the Acoma Pueblo is interesting.
Acoma Pueblo History
Archeological evidence shows that the area was occupied as far back as the 13th century. The Acoma dwelling houses were located at the top of the m
esa for strategic purposes. The mesa was an ideal fortress. What is more, it was easy to defend from their persecutors. In fact, the dwellers repelled several attacks. This was possible because access to their settlement was through very narrow trail winding along the mountain side. They finally succumb to a Spanish attack in 1599. The large number of the invading force overwhelmed the community. As a result, the Acoma homes were burnt to the ground during the attack.
The San Esteban Del Rey Mission of Acoma Pueblo, Sky City
Our guide narrated the rich history of the iconic San Esteban Del Rey Mission church. The construction began in 1629 and was completed in 1640. The
four beams at the back of the altar were significant. They were carried from the forest by hand. The Spanish insisted that the logs should not touch the ground. They were replaced if they touched the ground. Consequently, several of the Acoma men died during the log transfer process. The National Register of Historic Monuments registered the San Esteban Del Ray Mission. The world Monument Fund has also designated the church as an American’s treasure.
Finally, our three-hour tour came to an end. We hiked down the modern version of the access trail of the pueblo. I walked back to the cultural center. I left the area feeling very satisfied and knowledgeable about the Acoma pueblo, Sky City. This pueblo is an absolute must see.
Contact Tropical Destination Vacations for more information for visits to the Acoma Pueblo, Sky City Pueblo.
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