|
In the middle of the state of New Mexico you will come to the town of Mountainair at an elevation of 6,495 feet located on the Manzano-Chupadera Mesa cordilleria. It is in the fertile Estancia Valley in Torrance County. From Mountainair you will see the Manzano (apple) Mountains. The Chupadera Mesa is to the South. This mesa is a hunting area for hunters who wish to obtain wild turkey, deer, etc. The Cibola National Forest has boundaries to the south of the Chupadera Mesa.
At one time Mountainair was known as the pinto bean capital of the world. Corn and beans were grown in earlier years when plentiful rainfall was available. In recent years ranching and livestock are the most important activities in the area. The population is around ll00, climate has many enjoyable summer days and cool nights and snow is prevalent only in the mountain areas. The area has much to offer for cross-country skiing, hiking, fishing. Bird watchers come to locate and photograph the plentiful birds.
The Manzano Mountains nearby have many beautiful trees such as the Ponderosa pine and the Alligator Juniper. This juniper is said to look like the hide of an alligator as it has checkered patterns on the bark. There are camp sites available. Hiking, horseback riding or cycling trails are plentiful in the mountains. Raptors are very important in the Manzano Mountains with sometimes hundreds seen in a day and many thousands in a certain season. Check with the park office as they will provide a field checklist for all birdwatchers.
The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is located in the Mountainair area and consists of three pueblos: Quari, Gran Quivira and Abo. These are excellent examples of very complex l7th century ruins. The Spanish moved into this area in the l600's to convert the locals and built mission churches. These pueblos were abandoned in later years but the Spanish established villages to the North that are still there today. These villages are Tajique, Torreon, Punta de Auga and Manzano.
When the Spanish came to the area there were two Indian tribes, the Tiguex and the Piro that spoke different languages. A spring was located at Abo and Quarai with Indian populations of 700 at Abo and 900 at Quarai. Another pueblo was located east called Las Xumanas, or Las Humanas with a population of near 3,000 Indians. At one time there were over 34 wells from which the Indians carried their water to the pueblo.
Las Humanas is now called Gran Quivira and was built on a very low hill so that a view could be seen in all directions most likely as a defense against enemies. The Gran Quivira is the southernmost pueblo of the Saline area. In 1629 it was the seat of the Spanish mission. In 1909 Gran Quivira consisting of l60 acres was designated as a National Monument. In l9l9 the area was increased to 423.7 acres. Some of the church walls standing today are even 20 feet high. The altitude at Gran Quivira is 7.000 feet.
The Apache and Comanche Indians attacked this pueblo many times even a hundred years after the Spanish arrived. A misson was built at Gran Quivera with Fray Alonzo de Benavides delivering his first sermon in 1627. Fray Francisco Fonte came to Abo pueblo in 1620 and in 1629 Fray Esteban de Perea was over the entire area. He sent Father Francisco Acevado as a second missionary to Abo pueblo. At Abo Father Francisco Acevado build a large stone church and named it San Gregorio de Abo. San Gregorio still remains even though it has been empty for over three hundred years. There were many Comanche attacks and even during a Pueblo Revolt that nearly burned it down it still remains. To reach Gran Qjuivira you will travel twenty- five miles south of Mountainair on N.M. 55.
The largest church in the area pueblos was built right outside the pueblo and called the Mission of San Buenaventura. The church is l40 feet with 6 feet thick walls and consists of blue-gray limestone rock with adobe cement. A courtyard was built in the interior for the priest to have time alone.
In the very small town of Punta de Agua eight miles north of Mountainair there is an ancient pueblo mission called Quarai. In l630 De Perea established this mission by building a small church, then later a large stone church was build. This church is called the Church of the Immaculkate Conception with measurements of 104 x 46 feet. The floor is of stone and the church shows excellent planning with clean and sharp lines.
At one time there were eleven pueblos in the area but only six were identified as Abo, tinabo, Tabira, Chilili, Cuarai, and Tajique.
At the time of around l650 all the pueblos were thriving but droughts started ruining their ability to grow crops. There were many Comanche raids in addition conflicts with the priests in trying to convert the Indians all played a part in the departure of the Indians from the pueblos. By the year l670 most of the pueblos were deserted as they moved west to Rio Grande pueblos near Socorro.
These pueblo ruins are one of the main attractions to the area surrounding Mountainair. The National Park Service maintains a visitor center with movies and stories of the area and you may take self-guided tours of each. Mountainair is very small and has only a few places to dine or stay but is well worth the trip to this beautiful area in the middle of the wonderful State of New Mexico.
| 
