Pecos National Historical Park, National Historical Park in San Miguel County, United States
Pecos National Historical Park preserves the ruins of Pecos Pueblo, known as Cicuye, and the Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos. Three pueblo complexes—North, West and South Pueblo—are enclosed by a low protective wall, with the mission buildings at the southern end. The site lies about 17 miles east of Santa Fe, just south of Pecos.
The settlement began in the 12th century and grew into one of the largest pueblos in the Southwest before Spanish missionaries built a church in the 17th century. In the 19th century the last inhabitants left and moved to relatives in other communities.
Pecos Pueblo was known as Cicuye, the "village of 500 warriors", and its people spoke a Tanoan language, possibly Towa. More than 20 subterranean kivas served their religious life; some measure 40 feet across and 10 feet deep and were entered by wooden ladders. A traditional kiva was built in front of the mission church during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.
Visitors can walk a loop trail through the ruins that takes about an hour and is easy to navigate. A visitor center at the entrance displays artifacts and explains the layout with panels and models.
Parts of the historic trade route between Missouri and Santa Fe cross the grounds, and wagon ruts are still visible in the soil at some spots. These grooves formed through decades of heavy carts passing over the soft ground.
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