The Land of Enchantment
Capital: Santa Fe
New Mexican food. Aliens. Atomic bombs. A ton of National Park Sites.
The 47th state joined the Union in 1912.
New Mexico State Capitol: The only round state capitol in the country. A small but symbolic tribute to the people of New Mexico.
National Park Sites Visited
Aztec Ruins National Monument: A misnomer. The site has nothing to do with the Aztec Indians. Early explorers who found the site knew of tales of Cortez and the Aztecs. This site was actually built by Ancient Pueblo Indians, well before the Aztec Empire.
Bandelier National Monument: A smaller version of the Mesa Verde National Park cliff dwellings.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park: A rarity, where self-guided tours are allowed through the caves. The cave reaches a depth as low as the Empire State building is tall!
El Morro National Monument: An old watering hole. Historical graffiti. Great views.
Pecos National Historical Park: An old Spanish mission built near an Native Indian settlement.
Petroglyph National Monument: Native Indian petroglyphs carved into rocks. There are hundreds of them.
White Sands National Park: The white sand has gypsum in it…the same stuff that’s in drywall.