| Page Views: 2,629 Last Visit to New Mexico: - | UNIQUE CULTURE AMONGST SOUTHWEST GRANDUER by mtncorg - last update: Mar 23, 2004 |
| Entry to adobe church at Las Trampas |
Some describe New Mexico as empty and boring. Drive for many miles in this state and you might agree. But just when you thought there was nothing out among the Llano Estacado areas of eastern New Mexico, the dry deserts of the north and west or the utterly dull drive on I-10 across the south, you come across gems like the White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, the Hispanic communities along the Hig Road between Santa Fe and Taos, the ancient Indian pueblos of Taos and Acoma, or the unique jewell of Las Vegas - without the gambling. |
| Santa Fe Creek offers art seekers a bucolic relax |
|  | What sets New Mexico apart from much of hte West is its cultural history. The State is a true multiethnic land with prehistoric ruins, 17th century Spanish settlements, 19th century mining towns, 20th century US governmental science towns. The history is defined by the three major groups who live here: the local Indians - Pueblos (Anasazi descendents), Navajos, Apaches; Hispanics - dating back to 1598 when Onate first came into the area with settlers; Andlos - cowboys, miners, railroaders, and more recently, nuclear scientists. To know New Mexico, you must first discover something about the historical context first. |
A land of such diversity has spawned a wide array of artistic endeavors - both primitive native and folk and contemporary art forms spanning a wide gamut of media. Literature provides an interesting avenue in whihc to discover New Mexico from afar. Stories and myths have been a part of the landscape for centuries but modern writers you might look for include John Nichols (The Milagro Beanfield), N. Scott Momaday (House Made of Dawn), Leslie Marmon Silk (Ceremony) or the inimitable detective novels of Tony Hillerman - mysteries set among the Indian reservations and pueblos of New Mexico and Arizona.
New Mexico is a complex state you have to take time to fully discover. Some is easy to see though much remains hidden from the surface. .... certainly hidden from the casual motorist plodding along I-10, I-25 or I-40 at 80 mph.
Note: Must See sites are arranged in a loose historical manner - ancient to more recent. | | | Ruins of the Pueblo at Gran Quivira - muted past |
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| Pros: | "Cultural Diversity, Natural Beauty" | | Cons: | "Long stretches of very empty, dry roads" | | In A Nutshell: | "Cultural Uniqueness in the American West" |
mtncorg's New Mexico Travel Tips
 Comments for mtncorg about New Mexico | | | | |
Nemorino Sun Oct 8, 2006 19:44 UTC
Fine photos and informative texts, as always! When I was in college I used to work in New Mexico during the summers, but only really saw the northeast corner. | rexvaughan Thu Feb 9, 2006 13:53 UTC
Great stuff on this wonderful and overlooked place. We love Taos and the area. Thanks. | madamx Tue May 4, 2004 23:10 UTC
Awesome and informative page; loved the white sands photo! -- Helen | catalysta Tue Apr 20, 2004 14:52 UTC
Love N Mex, and thoroughly enjoyed your page. Another NM book you must read: Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya...Desert magic & mystique, beautiful story...cat |
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