National Historic Landmark

Puye Ruins

Espanola, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000481

About this property

The Puye Cliff Dwellings are the ruins of an abandoned pueblo, located in Santa Clara Canyon on Santa Clara Pueblo Reservation land near Española, New Mexico. Established in the late 1200s or early 1300s and abandoned by about 1600, this is among the largest of the prehistoric Indian settlements on the Pajarito Plateau, showing a variety of architectural forms and building techniques. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966. The name Puye (Tewa language: pu, “cottontail rabbits,” and ye, "to assemble") possibly suggests a place for hunting rabbits.

Location

Espanola, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

Categories

PREHISTORIC
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Questions about this property

When was Puye Ruins listed on the National Register?

Puye Ruins was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Puye Ruins?

Puye Ruins is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Puye Ruins a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Puye Ruins has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Puye Ruins?

The period of significance for Puye Ruins is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Puye Ruins?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Puye Ruins will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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