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Kiva in a plaza at Santa Clara Pueblo,
c. 1910
Courtesy of Western History/Genealogy
Department, Denver Public Library; from Library of Congress's American
Memory collection |
Santa Clara Pueblo was first visited in 1541 by part of Francisco Vásquez
de Coronado's expeditionary force. A mission was established in 1628
as a visita (satellite community) for San Juan Pueblo. In 1680 the inhabitants
of Santa Clara took an active part in the Great Pueblo Revolt against
the Spanish. The historic section of the pueblo complex consists of
one- and two-story adobe houses surrounding two main plazas with two
rectangular ceremonial kivas and a church, c. 1918. Santa Clara is a
"living" pueblo and is home to a community of highly skilled artisans
famous for their black polished and red polychrome pottery.
Santa Clara Pueblo is two miles south of Española, New Mexico,
on NM 30. Cameras are allowed only with a permit. The pueblo can be
visited daily from dawn to dusk. Please call 505-753-7326 for further
information.
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