The slope-shouldered outlines and earthen hues of adobe buildings root themselves in New Mexico. Bricks made from sun-dried clay, sand, straw, and water lend themselves to everything from a sturdy stable to a sculpted mansion. One of the earliest forms of eco-construction, adobe masonry techniques migrated from northern Africa and southern Spain with 17th-century Spanish colonists. Here, the practice merged with the earlier mud-building skills of indigenous peoples. The handprints of centuries’ worth of people remain forever a part of these structures, testaments to artistry and heart.

As the largest ballooning event in the world, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF) attracts pilots from all around the globe. More than 550 applicants were approved to fly in 2023, including 113 special-shape balloons and 63 international pilots from places like Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Taiwan.

One of the many draws for pilots is a chance to fly the famed Albuquerque Box, where low-altitude winds carry balloons to the south as they ascend to higher altitudes, and northbound winds enable pilots to reverse their direction, simulating a box-like flight path. In ideal conditions, pilots finessing these currents can enjoy an hour or longer flight while they navigate their balloons back to where they first launched.

Although Henry McCarty, better known as Billy the Kid, has been gone for over a century, his name remains synonymous with the American West. Despite being a charming singer and dancer, little is known about the notorious figure. While some attribute 21 deaths to him, recent research has revealed that he was only responsible for the killing of four men. His short and tumultuous life came to a close at age 22, when Sheriff Pat Garrett killed him at Old Fort Sumner on July 14, 1881.

While the number of caves is expected to increase as exploration continues, there might be far more mysteries to unearth in Carlsbad—everything from how cave features form to how life exists deep underground. President Calvin Coolidge created Carlsbad Cave National Monument on October 25, 1923. Congress granted the caverns national park status in 1930. Carlsbad Cavern—the park’s namesake cavern—is more than 30 miles long. The 8.2-acre Big Room is the largest and most readily accessible cave chamber in North America, according to the National Park Service.

Between 1920 and 1960, figures of women holding one or two children were the most popular at Cochiti. Scholars refer to these figures as Singing Mothers or Madonnas and recognize them as the precursor to the storyteller. Widespread acceptance of Pueblo figurative sculpture as an art form did not occur until the emergence of the storyteller in the 1960s. Scholars credit one Cochiti woman, Helen Cordero, with creating the Storyteller and sparking a revival in figurative ceramics. Like many other Cochiti women, Cordero had been making freestanding female figurines with one or two children. In 1964, at the request of folk art collector Alexander Girard, she made her figures larger and added more children. She crafted a male figure surrounded by children, a figure inspired by her grandfather. With open mouths and closed eyes, Cordero’s Storytellers appear to be in deep thought as they tell stories to surrounding children. Cordero noted that a Storyteller is strictly a male figure. Other Cochiti potters also began making their figures larger and with more children, often featuring a female or an animal figure as the focal point­. 

Traditional Cochiti storytellers have black and terracotta designs on a cream-colored background, a style that has characterized Cochiti pottery for more than a century. Some potters continue to use traditional natural vegetal and mineral pigments that artists like Cordero used, while others now use acrylic paints. 

The Spanish brought cows, sheep, and vaquero skills to New Mexico, but cowboying in the West really hit its stride after the Civil War. Rodeos throughout the state still celebrate the cowboy arts, including in Hobbs, where the Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo draws some of the nation’s hottest competitors. 

As a working railroad, the Cumbres & Toltec began in 1880, ground to a halt in the 1920s, and was abandoned in 1969. Credit the never-say-die ardor of railroad fans for its 1971 rebirth as a tourist train, overseen by a joint New Mexico–Colorado commission.   

Today the C&T is considered one of the most scenic and authentic train rides in North America and is one of New Mexico’s most popular and unique activities. Rail fans delight in half- and full-day excursions that hit a top speed of 12 miles per hour across open plains and mountain passes. 

New Mexico Is Flamenco’s beautiful, passionate stage. Since its founding in 1982, the National Institute of Flamenco, in Albuquerque, has spotlighted and elevated this traditional Spanish art form, by drawing artists from around the world for its annual Festival Flamenco Alburquerque, offering courses in flamenco arts at its conservatory, and training its professional repertory company, Yjastros (the only U.S. group invited to perform at the Festival de Jerez, in Spain). 

Fort Union is a skeleton fort garrisoned by ghosts and memories of the old Santa Fe Trail. The long-abandoned fort stands as the last outpost of an empire-building frontier, still determined not to surrender. Broken walls have crumbled in military precision leaving proud chimneys standing in stark aloneness. Roofless rooms, like empty shells, are floored with caved-in ceilings. Brick copings lie in fallen sections among weeds. ... When you leave this old fort, you look back. You are struck by the sheer stubbornness of its once living might.

The Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial has been held annually in Gallup, New Mexico since 1922. As the oldest continuous celebration of Native American art and culture in the state, it has become a model for similar events throughout the Southwest.

While some of the details of the event have faded over the years, the founding story of the Ceremonial remains clear. Today, the event takes place each August and includes a juried art market, nightly dances, and parades with Native American marching bands and floats. The event's core is still made up of Native American dancers, and the all-Indian rodeo showcases the grit and horsemanship that many tribes are known for, with unique touches like a Pony Express Race and a women's frybread pan throwing contest.

The nightly dances feature performers from across the United States and Mexico, and the grand entry is a dazzling display of participants in their regalia. Don't miss out on this incredible event that showcases the beauty and richness of Native American culture.

Georgia O'Keeffe left an indelible mark on the world of modern art. Her entire career was sparked when she sent a series of her paintings to a friend in New York. This friend eventually showed them to renowned art dealer and photographer, Alfred Stieglitz. In 1916, Stieglitz was the first to exhibit O'Keeffe's work, and by the 1920s, her paintings had been nationally acknowledged. After settling in New Mexico as her permanent residence, O'Keeffe remained there until her passing in 1986.

The Aztec Ruins National Monument is a fascinating example of ancestral Pueblo architecture, culture, and artifacts. The site boasts three-story masonry walls and remarkably preserved 900-year-old wooden roofs. Visitors can take a half-mile self-guided tour of the original rooms, gaining insight into the daily lives of the ancient people. In the central plaza, a reconstructed Great Kiva stands as a testament to the ceremonial practices of the past. Aztec Ruins remains a sacred place to the descendants of its original builders, including modern-day Pueblo tribes in New Mexico and Arizona. The park offers a range of special events throughout the year, such as a lantern display in December, an Earth Day celebration in April, and Junior Ranger camps. Kids can explore the site's history free of charge with the year-round Junior Ranger program. 

In 1883, the Fred Harvey Company welcomed a new wave of female employees, recruiting thousands of respectable and intelligent women from the East Coast and Midwest to become Harvey Girls and serve in their diners and hotels along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. By embracing these women, the Wild West was forever altered, with these Harvey Girls becoming part of the community and leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

Originally commissioned in 1926, Route 66 stretches its concrete arms across eight states, including a nibble off the corner of Kansas. New Mexico is the proud parent of more than 600 miles of the Mother Road (including discontinued stretches, aka alignments). The route is embellished with whimsical neon signs, fortified by classic diners, and smoothed by retro motels. 

Although the exact origins of lowriders remain a topic of intense debate, Española named itself as the Lowrider Capital of the World in the 1980s – a title it still holds to this day. These cars are more than just vehicles; they represent a form of art, cultural and religious beliefs, and are integral parts of families.

In 1923, when the Daughters of the American Revolution announced a contest for a state-flag design, physician Harry Mera recalled the Zia symbol. He and his wife, Reba, worked up a sample that split the three rays into four (unwittingly mimicking a “brother” to the sacred design) and depicted it in burgundy on a golden field to honor the state’s Spanish heritage.

In official publications, the state explains the sun sign as representing the four directions (starting at the north and moving counter-clockwise to the west, south, and east), four seasons (starting with spring, then summer, fall, and winter), four times of day (morning, noon, evening, night), four stages of life (childhood, youth, middle age, and old age), and an overall obligation to develop a strong body, clear mind, pure spirit, and devotion to the welfare of others above oneself.

The New Mexico True campaign was first launched in 2012 by the New Mexico Tourism Department in an effort to showcase New Mexico’s history and culture.  

On March 16, 1949, the New Mexico Legislature named as our official state avian species the “Chaparral Bird,” aka Geococcyx californianus, aka the greater roadrunner. Longtime hero of Saturday morning cartoons, the state bird can fly, but it usually prefers to beetle along on its strong legs, and does so throughout the state, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. Related to cuckoo birds, they’re smart enough to catch snakes (including rattlers), lizards, mice, and centipedes, but must beware of the far faster coyote, which, to our knowledge, has yet to actually purchase ACME anvils in pursuit of winged prey. During breeding season, roadrunners develop blue and red skin near their eyes. The bird’s zygodactyl feet—two toes forward, two backward—disguise the direction of its tracks. Native peoples, who admire the bird’s speed, sometimes use its X-shaped footprint as a sacred symbol to keep evil spirits from following them. 

In 1943, hundreds of scientists descended upon New Mexico with a top-secret mission: build an atomic bomb before the Nazis could. Led by J. Robert Oppenheimer, the team set up shop in a former boys’ school. On July 16, 1945, their hard work paid off when they detonated the world’s first atomic bomb—nicknamed “the gadget”—creating a mushroom cloud near Alamogordo. Today, this site is a National Historic Landmark known as the Trinity Site, a testament to the ingenuity and determination of Oppenheimer and his team.

Take a break from reality and immerse yourself in our rivers. Whether you prefer a leisurely drift or an adrenaline-fueled adventure, our rapids have it all. We call it "River Time" – that tranquil, hypnotic state where you lose yourself in the moment. Let the current of Río Grande or the Chama carry you away and feel your senses come alive. As the boat rises and falls, you'll experience a range of sensations from gentle swaying to exciting splashes and spins.

Born in Pastura, New Mexico, Rudolfo Anaya spent most of his childhood in Santa Rosa before moving to Albuquerque with his family. He graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1956 and went on to earn a B.A. in English and American Literature from UNM, as well as several other college degrees. In 1963, Anaya began writing Bless Me, Ultima, but encountered challenges publishing his work due to the combination of English and Spanish in his writing. Despite this, he went on to become an acclaimed Chicano author, living in Albuquerque until his passing in 2020.

Sandía, a mountain range in central New Mexico, derives its name from its pinkish hue resembling a watermelon. The range covers 17 miles north to south and 6 miles east to west. A unique feature of Sandía is that it's one of the few national wilderness areas that borders an urban environment. The portion from Tramway Boulevard up to the crest is owned by Sandía Pueblo, but a tribal compromise keeps the land open to hikers, climbers, skiers, and hang gliders. The tribe's claim to the mountain was not federally recognized until 2001.

The art of the santero, or maker of saintly images, is believed to have begun around 1760 in colonial New Mexico. Franciscan priests, charged with the task of establishing Christianity on the frontier, worked with local artisans to provide the holy images needed for worship and decoration in the newly built adobe churches. The santeros made retablos, painted images on hand-adzed pine panels, and carved three-dimensional bultos, both of which were then gessoed and painted with native pigments. 

Shiprock, a prominent landmark in the Navajo Nation, is situated approximately 15 miles southwest of the town of Shiprock, NM. It's visible from afar, up to 50 miles on a clear day, and towers at a peak of 7,178 feet above sea level. The formation is essentially the remnants of ancient volcanic eruptions that occurred roughly 25-30 million years ago. The name Shiprock derives from the Navajo language, specifically "Tsé Bitʼaʼí," which translates to "rock with wings" or "winged rock."

Smokey Bear is a local story connected to our state’s history. It tells the story of the burned, orphaned cub who survived a human-caused fire in 1950 and became a global symbol of wildfire prevention with his “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” campaign. In April 2001, Smokey’s message was officially updated to “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires,” after wildfires became a chronic problem not just in forests, but in grasslands and other areas. 

When most people think of baking Christmas goodies, lard and anise may not come to mind as key ingredients. Unless they’re New Mexicans. Every December here, it’s blessedly impossible to avoid rich, sandy-textured biscochitos—or their beguiling aroma. When it was named the state cookie in 1989, this shortbread-style cookie wasn’t being honored alone; the grandmas, moms, and aunties who made them were also being implicitly recognized. If you look up “biscochito” online, you could easily get the impression that Don Diego de Vargas and his cuadrilla galloped into what would become New Mexico with batches of the cookies stuffed in their saddlebags. The provenance isn’t all that clear, but we do know that the cookie bears similarities to various old Spanish sugar cookies. Anise, the Mediterranean spice and major biscochito flavoring, came to northern New Mexico in the early years of settlement, according to the historian William W. Dunmire. Because the spice was not easily obtained, it was saved for special occasions. Biscochitos began appearing in New Mexico cookbooks close to a hundred years ago. 

Taos Pueblo is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a National Historic Site that has been occupied for more than a millennium. This adobe structure is a unique and awe-inspiring sight, made up of many individual homes, built side-by-side with common walls. While it may seem like a living museum, the Pueblo is actually a thriving community, with 150 Native Americans residing within its walls and over 1,900 Taos Indians living on the surrounding lands.

The residents of Taos Pueblo still speak Tiwa, their native language, and follow their age-old traditions, which include no electricity or running water within the Pueblo walls. The church of San Gerónimo stands within the Pueblo and is a beautiful example of Spanish mission architecture. Although the original church was destroyed in the Taos Uprising in 1847, its ruins still stand next to the Pueblo's cemetery.

The Taos tribe's oral traditions and native language are unwritten and unrecorded, with sacred traditions kept off-limits to non-tribal members. However, during the annual Taos Pueblo Powwow, an event that brings together spiritual leaders and tribal members, costumed dancers, singers, and other ceremonies provide insight into the fascinating story of these remarkable Native Americans.

Going back a thousand years to Chaco Canyon, even earlier, think of the natural environment. Turquoise was spectacular. It’s bright, it’s vibrant. A rock may not seem that special to us now, but a thousand years ago it was as special as can be.

When the Spanish invaders came into New Mexico, they were looking for a city of gold. They found turquoise, and they were disappointed that the people had only “Turkish” rock. From the Spanish perspective, turquoise had no value or meaning. The Spanish didn’t see it in the 16th century, but turquoise became a major product for tourists to buy through the curio trade. Turquoise increased in value over materials that were historically more difficult for Native artists to obtain.