Aztec Ruins Administration Building-Museum

The Aztec Ruins Administration Building-Museum is a National Park Service visitor center in San Juan County featuring traditional adobe walls, flat roofs, and exposed wooden beams in the style of New Mexican architecture. It serves as the main gateway for exploring the nearby archaeological site with its ancient Puebloan ruins.

The building was designed in 1919 by architect Earl Halstead Morris as part of efforts to preserve archaeological sites across the American Southwest. Its construction marked an important step in documenting and protecting these ancient Puebloan settlements.

The museum displays objects and exhibits showing how Ancestral Puebloan communities lived, built their structures, and organized their societies. You can see tools, pottery, and other items that reveal their daily practices.

The center is open year-round and offers National Park passport stamps and guided tours to explore the archaeological site. Visitors should allow time to view the indoor exhibits before heading out to see the ruins.

The building blends architectural elements from ancient Puebloan constructions with Spanish colonial designs, creating a distinctive Southwestern identity. This mix reflects the meeting of two cultures that shaped the region for centuries.

Location: San Juan County

Inception: 1919

Architects: Earl Halstead Morris

Architectural style: Pueblo Revival Style architecture

GPS coordinates: 36.83458,-108.00024

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:48