Visiting any of New Mexico’s 19 Indian Pueblos can provide a fascinating perspective on both the past and the present of American Indian life. Many of the Pueblos offer a wide variety of Indian crafts for sale. When the Spanish explorers arrived in the area, they found well established communities which they called “Pueblos” (Spanish for “villages” or “towns”). You’re welcome to visit the Pueblos most of the time, and all Pueblos have feast days to which the general public is invited. Some have gift shops, lakes, and golf courses in addition to the breathtaking scenery.

When visiting a Pueblo, keep in mind that it is the home of many American Indians. Most Pueblos encourage visitation, but ask that visitors treat everyone they meet with courtesy and respect. In many cases it is forbidden to take photographs or to paint or sketch images of the Pueblo or its people. Do not enter people’s homes uninvited and, during ceremonies, do not ask questions, clap, or walk across the plaza; ceremonies have religious and spiritual meaning, and such behavior is inappropriate. Call or check in at the Pueblo office in advance of your visit.

Pueblos near Albuquerque:

Sandia Pueblo: (505-867-3317) located north of Tramway at Albuquerque’s northern border, it has a population of approximately 500. It offers the Sandia Lakes Recreation area, a high-stakes bingo hall and Sandia Casino with Las Vegas style gambling. Bien Mur Indian Market Center has authentic Indian jewelry, pottery, rugs, tax free tobacco products, and other craft items. It is also located off of Tramway just east of Interstate 25.

Santo Domingo Pueblo: (505-465-2214) and San Felipe Pueblo: (505-867-3381), lie north of the Sandia Pueblo. The Rio Grande River runs through both Pueblos. Both Santo Domingo and San Felipe discourage visitors except on feast days. (Santo Domingo does operate a trading post that welcomes visitors any day)Santo Domingo’s feast day is a particularly elaborate affair featuring a large number of dancers; it is definately worth seeing. San Felipe has it’s Casino Hollywood with Las Vegas style gambling.

Cochiti Pueblo: (505-465-2244) lies north of Santo Domingo, and is known for its fine artists. Cochiti Dam, one of the largest earth and concrete dams in the country, and the lake it created, Cochiti Lake are popular attractions. Windsurfers, sailors, and fisherman love its seven mile long, 85 feet deep, and 21 mile shoreline. A warm water lake, it has rainbow trout, Northern Pike, bass, crappie, and other species. The Pueblo operates a residential development, a championship golf course, a marina, and a retail center on site.
Santa Ana Pueblo: (505-867-3301) just east of Bernalillo on NM 44, owns and operates one of New Mexico’s finest golf courses, is home to Prairie Star a five star restaurant, and runs Santa Ana Star a Las Vegas style casino. The Santa Ana Commercial Center sells arts and crafts, discount tobacco products, and blue corn food items.

Zia Pueblo: (505-867-3304) northwest of Santa Ana along NM44, it sits on a low mesa on the east bank of the Jemez River. Its sun symbol, used in old Zia pottery designs, now adorns the flag, state seal, and is the official symbol of the state of New Mexico. Pueblo members produce its famous orange on white pottery and other craft items.
Jemez Pueblo: (505-834-7235) west of State Highway 4 in a beautiful shallow valley embelished by Jemez Red Rocks, rock formations that vividly contrast with the deep blue sky. The Pueblo operates three small campgrounds with fishing ponds, as well as recreation areas where visitors may picnic, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors. The Pueblo has more than 3,000 tribal members. The present site has been occupied since the 16th century, with many of the buildings dating back to the period following the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. It is the last remaining Tewa-speaking Pueblo. Traditional Jemez foods and arts and crafts can be purchased at roadside stands throughout this beautiful area.

Acoma Pueblo (505-552-6604) About an hour and a half west of Albuquerque, Acoma is the oldest continuously inhabited Indian Pueblo in North America. The Pueblo is virtually unchanged- for centuries families have lived atop the 357 foot high rock, without benefit of water, electricity, or most other conveniences. Guided tours, of the village on the mesa, are available and you can purchase Native food, pottery, and other examples of arts and crafts.

Isleta Pueblo (505-869-3111) Just south of Albuquerque, just off I-25, it features Isleta Lakes. Three small lakes are located within the Pueblo, where visitors can camp and fish. If the fish aren’t biting, there are other activities to occupy your time, such as a 27-hole golf course and a Las Vegas style casino.

Other Southern Region Pueblos:

Laguna Pueblo : comprises six major villages, Laguna, Paguate, Encinal, Mesita, Seama, Paraje, scattered over many acres, with the political center at Laguna. Livestock grazing was a traditional occupation, but because one of the world’s richest uranium fields is located on the reservation, many men became miners. (505-552-6654/6655)Zuni Pueblo : Especially noticeable is the quality in the widely acclaimed jewelry they produce, fashioned of turquoise, shell and jet set in silver in intricate mosaic or inlay patterns. The mosaic is made by laying one stone next to another with no silver in between, while the inlaid or channel work surrounds the individual stone with silver. (505-782-4481

Northern Region Pueblos:

Nambe Pueblo : Weaving is being revived in the production of kilts and cotton belts. Pottery too is once again being made, in black on black and white on red designs, similar to the work of the Taos and Picuris Pueblo potters. However, the principal occupation of the Nambe people is farming, with some outside employment at Los Alamos. (505-455-2036)

Picuris Pueblo : craftsmen produce an unusual pottery, different from most pueblo art, in that it is strictly urilitarian and without ornament. It is made of micaceous clay and has an interesting texture with a subtle glitter caused by the small chips of mica in the mixture. (505-587-2519)

Pojoaque Pueblo : currently undergoing an economic renaissance due to Tribal economic development efforts in the Pojoaque basin area. These projects include the Pueblo’s Cities of Gold Casino, Tribal and non-Tnbal businesses, the Poeh Cultural Center and Museum, and the Downs racetrack in Santa Fe. (505-455-2278/2054)

San Ildefonso Pueblo : one of the best known New Mexico pueblos because of the famous black-on-black pottery which originated there and which was revived in the nineteen-twenties. (505-455-2273)

San Juan Pueblo : has a well known art center, the Oke Owinge Arts & Crafts Co-Operative, where visitors may watch many of the artisans working in a variety of art forms, and where jewelry, pottery, and other work from over one hundred artists may be purchased. (505-852-4400/4210)

Santa Clara Pueblo : offers visitors a number of highly diverse attractions, from tours of the pre-historic cliff dwellings of Puye to sightseeing, fishing and camping in the nearby canyon. (505-753-7330)

Taos Pueblo : stands as the largest surviving multistoried Pueblo structure in the United States. (505-758-9593)

Tesuque Pueblo : just north of the city of Santa Fe, is one of the most traditional of all of the Tewa speaking pueblos, despite having been in contact with outside cultures throughout much of its history. (505-983-2667)