New Mexico

Enchanted Mesa

Enchanted Mesa rises above the Acoma Pueblo Indian Reservation in New Mexico.

Taos Pueblo Door

A door in the Taos Pueblo. Taos Pueblo is an ancient pueblo belonging to the Native American tribe of Puebloan people. The pueblos are considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. The main part of the present buildings were most likely constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D. They appear today much as they did when the first Spanish explorers arrived in Northern New Mexico in 1540 and believed that the Pueblo was one of the fabled golden cities of Cibola. Painting the doors blue is believed to help keep out evil spirits.

Sunset from Sandia Crest

The sun sets as seen from atop Sandia Crest (10,678 feet) to the east of Albuquerque, NM.

Yuccas at Sunset

Yuccas glow in the sunset at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.

Cerro Pedernal Sunset

The sun sets behind Cerro Pedernal in Northern New Mexico. Pedernal (the flat top mountain) was a favorite of the artist Georgia O'Keefe and is where her ashes were spread.

Moon Rise

The moon rises over the Sandia Mountains and casts a reflection across the Rio Grande.

Broken Windows

The former Santa Fe Railway Yard in Albuquerque, NM, built between 1915 - 1925. This is the Machine Shop at 165,000 sq ft. The expansive main bay is 57 feet (17 m) high and 604 feet (184 m) long with several overhead cranes, the largest of which has a 250-ton capacity. The building is floored with wooden blocks to cut down on noise.

Abandoned Car

An abandoned car sits in the almost ghost town of San Fidel, NM.

Laguna Sunset

Amazing New Mexico sunset in Laguna, NM.

San Luis, NM

The colors in the sky seemed to dance above the abandoned grave yard in the almost ghost town of San Luis, NM.

Hoodoo

A hoodoo stands guard in the Ojito Wilderness area in New Mexico. Formed by wind and water erosion.

Acequia

An Acequia (Spanish for irrigation ditch) in Albuquerque, NM.

Santuario de Chimayo

Considered one of the holiest places in North America, the Santuario de Chimayo in New Mexico is visited by hundreds of thousands who believe in the healing power of the dirt from this site. This church was built in 1810.

Sunset at White Sands

The sun sets at White Sands National Monument in southern NM.

Grist Mill at Salman Ranch

The Grist Mill at Salman Ranch in La Cueva, NM, was built in the 1850's.

San Juan Mission Cemetery

Unmarked graves at the San Juan Mission Cemetery in New Mexico. The cemetery was built in 1918 and filled with victims of the Influenza epidemic. The flu epidemic of 1918 killed over 1,000 residents of NM.

Abandoned Church in Taiban

Just outside of Fort Sumner New Mexico (final resting place of Billy the Kid) lies the ghost town of Taiban. In the fall of 1908, construction began on the First Presbyterian Church of Taiban. It was completed on December 22, 1908, and the last sermon was held in 1936.

Abandoned Church in Taiban BW

Just outside of Fort Sumner New Mexico (final resting place of Billy the Kid) lies the ghost town of Taiban. In the fall of 1908, construction began on the First Presbyterian Church of Taiban. It was completed on December 22, 1908, and the last service was held in 1936.

San Geronimo de Taos Ruins

Snow surrounds the Taos Pueblo which was first occupied around 900 AD and is the oldest continuously occupied structure in America. In 1627 the Spanish began construction of a Mission to covert the Indians. The church was destroyed several times including during the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 and again during the Mexican-American war in 1846. The ruins of the bell tower and graveyard are pictured above.

Fall in New Mexico

A single chile hangs next to pumpkins.

Lights Among the Ruins

Luminarias (farolitos) light up the Jemez Historic Site ruins. The Jemez National Historic Landmark is one of the most beautiful prehistoric and historic sites in the Southwest. It includes the stone ruins of a 500 year old Indian village and the San José de los Jemez church dating to 1621. In the 17th century, the Spanish established a Catholic mission at the village. The mission was short-lived, and, in time, the people abandoned the site and moved to the current location of Jemez Pueblo. The massive stonewalls were constructed about the same time the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. A luminaria or farolito is a small paper lantern (commonly a candle set in some sand inside a paper bag) which is of significance in the US state of New Mexico in southwest United States at Christmas time, especially on Christmas Eve. They are said to light the way for the Christ Child.

Christmas Day Sunset in Encino, NM

Driving on Christmas Day and the sun began to set with this gorgeous color. I rushed to get to the windmill down the road and got there just in time to snap this shot.

Santuario de Chimayo at Christmas

The Santuario de Chimayo is considered one of the holiest places in North America. It was built in 1810 and during the Christmas season they place the luminaries outside.

Santuario de Chimayo at Christmas

Another shot of the Santuario de Chimayo, built in 1810, at Christmas.

Quarai Ruins - Spanish Mission

The Quarai ruins in NM are what is left from a Native American Pueblo and Spanish Mission abandoned in 1670. It is part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. The Mission, Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Quarai, was built in 1632.

New Mexico Sunrise

Sunrise in Albuquerque, NM, on Jan 20, 2020. Mother Nature was putting on some of her best work.

Blue Swallow Motel 1

The Blue Swallow Motel was built in 1940 along the historic Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is still in operation today.

Blue Swallow Motel 2

The Blue Swallow Motel was built in 1940 along the historic Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is still in operation today.

Chile Basket

Chile is a staple crop of New Mexico. In fact, our "Official State Question" is "Red or Green?". Besides making traditional NM dishes flavorful they can also be used as decorations as this basket shows.