Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service in central New Mexico that protects exceptional primary archaeological resources dating back 1,200 years. The park comprises three discontinuous units: Abo, Gran Quivira, and Quarai. Each unit contains distinctive 17th-century Spanish missions, American Indian pueblos, and a variety of other historic buildings and structures. Quarai, Abo, and Gran Quivira are in a region known to the colonial Spanish
as the Salinas Province, named for the valuable salt deposits found there.

Through the centuries, this diverse region supported prehistoric hunter-gatherers and Puebloan groups, Spanish missionaries, and European American settlers. The people, places, and stories of the Salinas Pueblo Missions reflect a long tradition of cultural diversity, social interaction, and adaptation to a rich but demanding environment.

The park is open 9 AM – 5 PM in the summer season (April 1 – October 31) and 9 AM – 4 PM in the winter season (November 1 – March 31). Access after hours is strictly controlled to ensure the safety and security of the centuries-old historic masonry structures and to protect wildlife and other natural resources. To preserve the park’s Silver-tier skies, all structural lighting is Dark Sky-friendly, on motion sensors, restrained to practical and required areas, and exists only where it is deemed
necessary.

The park’s Silver-tier skies are an increasingly popular draw for visitors seeking to experience the same naturally dark sky that Ancestral Puebloans saw before the arrival of the Spanish. From May through October, visitors can experience the park’s pristine night sky during Dark Sky Programs hosted once a month. These interpretive programs
consists of ranger-led sunset hikes, stargazing opportunities with park telescopes, dark sky photography workshops, and educational materials that draw attention to what visitors can do to minimize light pollution and conserve their dark skies.