The Jemez Historic Site is located on New Mexico State Road 4 in Jemez Springs. This location is just a short drive away from the Valle Caldera National Preserve, Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument. Locally the Santa Fe National Forest and Jemez National Recreation Area are the main attractions. Several trout fishing sites can be found along the Jemez River and there are multiple developed campgrounds to choose from. There are also sanctioned rock climbing sites, biking trails and horseback trail riding opportunities along the Jemez River. Jemez Springs is famous for being a haven for weekend warriors, so there is plenty going on in this neck of the woods. The Jemez Recreation Area can be busy on weekends, while a weekday visit will offer more breathing room. Making campsite reservations ahead of time is recommended during the busy warm weather seasons.
The Jemez New Mexico State Historic Site signage is easy to spot and the parking is adequate. Those who have physical challenges will like this park because the paths are paved and the grades are not very steep. The entrance fee is a real bargain and once inside the park, a world of peace and quiet awaits. The mountainous high elevation setting is as picturesque as can be and there are plenty of shade trees to be found. Overall the experience compares to a relaxing walk in a park. The main features of the Jemez Historic Site are a fully restored kiva, the ancient Giusewa Pueblo and the San Jose De Los Jemez Mission ruins. The origins of the Giusewa Pueblo predate the Spanish occupation and this ancient sacred place was occupied when the foreigners arrived in the 1600s. The first round of Spaniards established a church on the pueblo grounds, but it was not till the 1700s when the big mission complex was built on site. The reason why the San Jose De Los Jemez Mission looks so much like the native great house pueblos in this region is because the same people that built and lived in the Giusewa Pueblo also built the mission. It is easy to think that the native people looked upon the Spanish Mission as being a welcome addition to their own pueblo complex, but this was not the case. The ruling party of Spaniards were not well liked due to many acts of greed and cruelty. Eventually a rebellion was staged and the ruling Spaniards were kicked out of the region. Much more local history can be learned onsite at the Jemez Pueblo Mission and at the neighboring Jemez Pueblo Visitor Center. One of the most interesting features of the Jemez Historic Site is the fully restored kiva, which is a true rarity. I If you have never been inside a ceremonial kiva before, the experience certainly will be enlightening. The sheer scale of the massive mission church structure overwhelms the senses in this peaceful mountain setting and it is easy to imagine how pueblo the lifestyle must have been while wandering the grounds. This is a very picturesque place, so be sure to set some extra time aside to take it all in.
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