San Estevan Del Rey Mission Church

San Estevan Del Rey Mission Church is an adobe and stone structure standing atop Acoma Pueblo's mesa, designed as a place of worship. The building contains a main sanctuary and features walls constructed from local materials with decorative interior elements throughout.

Construction began under Spanish Franciscan direction during the early colonial period in the region. The project connected religious expansion with the labor and resources of the local community.

The interior displays traditional Acoma artistic patterns painted into the whitewashed walls, showing how local creative traditions persist in the space. These details reveal how the community has maintained its identity within the building over centuries.

The building is accessed through guided tours only, and visitors must plan ahead to arrange their visit. Photography and other activities may be restricted in certain areas, so it helps to check guidelines before arriving.

Large wooden beams used in the roof were transported from distant mountain sources through remarkable effort. This construction approach reveals how builders solved practical challenges with the resources available to them.