Review:

Aztec Ruins National Monument preserve gorgeous 11th-century Ancestral Puebloan homes and civic structures located approximately nine miles from the Salmon Ruins Museum. The monument, which is easily accessible from the city of Farmington, is named in honor of the ruins' 19th-century discovery by European settlers, who mistakenly believed that the ruins belonged to the ancient Aztec Empire. Today, the site is incorporated as a part of the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway and is preserved as part of the Chaco Culture UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parkgoers can view the preserved historic structures as part of self-guided tours along the park's educational visitor trail, which also showcases touring site reconstructions. A visitor center is also offered at the park, along with a native plants walk showcasing plants common to the New Mexico region. A pedestrian river bridge at the park is designated as a site along the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, documenting the region's Spanish mission history.

Aztec Ruins National Monument, 725 Ruins Road, Aztec, NM 87410, Phone: 505-334-6174

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