This church, built in 1935, replacing an older one that burned in 1860. The church anchors the main plaza of Abiquiu, New Mexico. Abiquiú means "wild choke cherry place" in the Tewa language. The community is also called Santo Tomas de Abiquiú and the Pueblo of Santo Tomas de Abiquiú.
Shrine to Mary Magdalene
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Questa, also known as San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church, was built in the mid-1800s by the first families of what was then the village of San Antonio del Rio Colorado. It was recently renovated and this shrine sites just outside the main doors of this beautiful church. I sat and marveled at it's simple southwest design and beauty. Finding these gems on your travels is worth the exploration.
Crosses in the Mission Ruins
We came across this wonderful spanish ruin while hiking on the Withers Canyon Trail in the Comanche National Grasslands. It is very rewarding to find these jewels of American Western History in Colorado while exploring our wonderful state. This section of the hiking trail was once part of the Santa Fe Trail and this ancient mission was a site where the spaniards worked to convert the local indians to catholicism.
New Mexican Pueblo Graveyard
A pueblo is a unique place. The history is overwhelming when you walk past the graveyard filled with hundreds of years of souls. Makes you imagine what colorful characters were buried there?
Crosses Hanging at a Shrine in Chimayo
A photo of a shrine which had crosses that pilgrims placed in front of a small mural at El Santuario de Chimayó, a Catholic church in Chimayó, New Mexico. The sanctuary is famous for the story of its founding and as a contemporary pilgrimage site. It receives almost 300,000 visitors per year and many believe it to be the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States.