Jemez Historic Site

Jemez Historic Site is an archaeological location with a 17th-century Spanish mission church and the remains of a large Native American settlement. The church features thick stone walls, and beside it are the foundations of roughly 200 rooms where people once lived.

Spanish missionaries built the church in the early 1600s to convert the local population to Christianity. The settlement was later abandoned when a major Pueblo uprising in 1680 forced the Spanish colonizers to leave the region.

The settlement features rectangular kivas instead of circular ones, reflecting the distinct building practices of the Jemez people. These architectural choices remain visible in the ruins and reveal local traditions that shaped how the community lived.

The site sits along State Route 4 north of Jemez Springs and is easy to access by car. Plan time for walking the trails and be prepared for uneven ground and open areas with little shade.

The mission church was built using an unusual blend of Spanish techniques combined with local stone materials including sandstone and volcanic rock. This mix of European and indigenous building methods makes the ruins particularly interesting to study.

Location: New Mexico

GPS coordinates: 35.77722,-106.68639

Latest update: December 12, 2025 08:00