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rants, New Mexico, and the surrounding area has become a destination for those who wish to see and experience the best of what the Southwest has to offer. It’s the perfect place to learn, explore, and play. Just off I-40 at exit 85 in Grants, the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center is a great place to begin your Cibola County adventure. At this multi-agency facility, you’ll find everything you need to plan your trip to the area’s beautiful public lands; you’ll get a sneak peak of what’s to come with a view of the ancient El Calderon lava flow. They also have a not-for-profit bookstore, as well as picnic facilities and short nature trails.
EXPLORATION EXPERIEN CE
EXCITEMENT Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center
Explore Historic Route 66 Perhaps no other stretch of road is as famous as the original Route 66 — the Mother Road — and travelers will enjoy the nostalgia of following its path through Cibola County, which is home to the longest unbroken stretch of Route 66 in New Mexico. Along the way, you’ll see many of the same sights, signs, and businesses that the travelers of yesteryear saw during the highway’s days of glory. The journey will take you to pueblos and lava flows as you cross the Continental Divide. At the Double Six Gallery and Art & Artifacts Museum, visitors can view exquisite works by nearly 70 of the region’s multicultural artists and purchase interesting pieces that will remind them of their Cibola County experience. The museum is dedicated to regional, historical exhibits.
Experience Native American Culture Cibola County also offers the opportunity to experience Native American culture through the area’s pueblos and historical sites. Visitors are encouraged to call in advance to understand the etiquette and physical demands of the places they wish to visit. East of Grants is the Laguna Pueblo, an area which has been inhabited by Native Americans for hundreds of years. The pueblo is host to the feast of St. Joseph each year on September 19, which includes a Mass, dances, and booths selling arts and crafts. You can reach the pueblo at 505-552-6654. Also nearby is the Acoma Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in all of North America. The Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum shouldn’t be missed, and visitors are encouraged to enjoy
guided tours of both Sky City and the 17thcentury San Estevan del Rey Mission. Stop by the Yaak’a Café for a traditional meal, then shop the Gaits’i Indian Art Gallery for authentic Native American art and gifts. There are numerous events and celebration feasts that guests may attend each year at the pueblo, as well as seasonal hunting opportunities. See www.skycity.com or call 800-747-0181. Just 73 miles south of Grants, the Zuni Pueblo is the largest of New Mexico’s 19 pueblos. Zuni artisans are famous worldwide, and their beautiful carvings, needlepoint works, and inlay jewelry are prized by collectors. The pueblo also features Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, built in 1629, as well as a museum and heritage center. The 450,000-acre pueblo offers hunting for a variety of species via an application process. Call 505-782-7238 for more information. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, 90 miles northwest of Grants, is one of our nation’s foremost cultural and historical areas. Between A.D. 850 and 1250, Chaco Canyon was the center of trade, ceremony, and administration for the Puebloan culture. The distinctive architecture of the ancient structures continues to inspire thousands of
years later. The park features a visitor’s center, seasonal astronomy programs, and access to sites via paved roads, bicycle trails, and hiking trails. The sites are continually used today by the Puebloans and other Native Americans for rituals and ceremonies. Native Americans may enter free.
Glimpses of History The mining industry plays an important role in the history of Grants, and the New Mexico Mining Museum at 100 North Iron Avenue gives visitors the chance to learn what uranium mining was like in days past. Along with self-guided tours of a re-created underground mine, the museum gallery displays the history of Cibola County industry, including railroads, logging, and ranching. There are exhibits of gems and minerals from all over the world, as well as an excellent collection of New Mexico artifacts dating as far back as the 8th century. For a pleasant afternoon drive, stop by the Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce and pick up a map for the self-guided Zuni Mountain Railroad Tour. The tour will give you insight into the colorful history of the railroad, which ran from 1892 to 1942 and was
www.grants.org
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