Coronado Historic Site

Coronado Historic Site sits along the Rio Grande in the town of Bernalillo, just north of Albuquerque. The site preserves the ruins of Kuaua Pueblo, a Tiwa village first settled around AD 1325. The site is named for Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, the Spanish conquistador who passed through the area in 1540.

The main draw is the mix of Pueblo history, early Spanish contact, and the setting itself. Visitors can walk short trails through the archaeological site, see reconstructed pueblo walls, visit the small museum, and view original kiva murals recovered during 1930s excavations. A reconstructed painted kiva is also viewable by guided tour. The site sits near the Rio Grande, with quiet cottonwood-lined paths and excellent views of the Sandia Mountains.

It is not a large site, but it gives you a good sense of Kuaua Pueblo and how Spanish arrival affected it. Coronado Historic Site is about half an hour from Albuquerque and makes an easy stop, especially if you are already heading north. Santa Ana Pueblo is nearby, and its Tamaya Resort is one of the prettiest places to stay in the state, making the area a worthwhile detour.