San Esteban del Rey de Acoma

San Esteban del Rey de Acoma

Northwest region of New Mexico The Pueblo, believed to have been established in the 12th century or even earlier, was chosen in part because of its defensive position against raiders. It is regarded as the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. Access to the pueblo is difficult as the faces of the mesa are sheer. Before modern times access was gained only by means of a hand-cut staircase carved into the sandstone.

Construction on San Esteban del Rey Church began in 1630, 32 years after Juan de Oñate took possession of New Mexico in the name of King Philip II of Spain, under the direction of Friar Juan Ramírez. Its 30-foot beams were carried 30 miles from Kaweshtima or Mount Taylor Mountain, and the dirt for its graveyard was carried up the mesa from the valley below. To build the church, convent and cemetery, Acomans moved approximately 20,000 tons of earth and stone from the canyon floor up the precipitous sides of the mesa. Both the mission and the pueblo are registered National Historical Landmarks. In late 2006 the Acoma Pueblo was also named as a National Trust Historic Site. This church was one of the few Spanish missions to survive the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.

Today, the church houses the largest inventory of early 17th century building material of any structure in New Mexico. Its collection of Spanish colonial ecclesiastic art is unique and includes an original hand-hewn circular staircase, hand-carved rails, paintings, a reredo and more.

Acoma Pueblo
Acoma, New Mexico 87034
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