History & Culture

The Human Stories of a Southwestern Gateway

Glorieta Pass drew us here. This low passage between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the high tableland of Glorieta Mesa invited people. Local stories of human culture began with nomadic hunters, followed by Indigenous peoples of the Pueblos and Plains. In their footsteps came the Spanish colonists, the Mexican and Anglo armies, Santa Fe Trail travelers, and tourists on the railroad. Route 66 and Interstate 25 follow these familiar paths too. The Upper Pecos Valley invites contemplation about where our civilization comes from and where it is going. Pecos National Historical Park preserves thousands of years of this rich history. Explore the tiles below to read about the people, places and stories that make this place unique.

 

People

 
Many people standing in front of blue mountains and cloudy blue skies.
Pecos People

The ancestral Pecos People farmed, traded, and lived here for over 1000 years. Their descendants still live nearby.

Friar sitting on low wall with indigenous people in front of church and pueblo
Spanish Friars and Colonists

In 1541, the Coronado Expedition reached Pecos Pueblo. Things would never be the same again.

 

Places

 
Stacked tan stone walls, mortared between. Ragged wooden remains of posts. Pale green bush on right.
Pecos Pueblo

Pecos Pueblo was once a powerful center of trade and culture. Explore this place through different time periods.

Historic photo of Martin Kozlowski in front of small unadorned adobe building
The Trading Post & Santa Fe Trail

The Santa Fe Trail brought trade and travelers through this area. One waystation on the trail is now part of the park.

Confederate soldiers, holding red flag with white star, fire on Union soldiers outside adobe house
Glorieta Battlefield

The farthest west pivotal battle of the Civil War occurred here in Northern New Mexico. Come, have a read.

Historic photo of a herd of horses, three men mounted, chuckwagon on left, long covered porch.
Forked Lightning Ranch

Began as a dude ranch in the 1920s, the Forked Lightning Ranch was later a summer home for a Hollywood movie star and her husband.

 

Stories

 
Bowl with orange and black figure in bottom
Archaeology

Research and archaeology at Pecos: A.V. Kidder, Pecos Conferences, Repatriation.

Two workers in yellow vests hold fabric next to a worker spraying adobe mold, brown bricks behind
Preservation

Preserving adobe structures takes a lot of work and skill. Learn how it is done here.

 

Last updated: September 19, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Pecos National Historical Park
P.O. Box 418
Pecos, NM 87552

Phone:

505 757-7241

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