Claiming to be the oldest continually inhabited city in the continental Unites States, Acoma Pueblo, also known as Sky City, has a history dating back to 1100 A.D. Today it is still sacred to the Acoma people, but only about 12 families occupy this dramatic setting, perched over 300 feet of the desert floor. The city can barely be seen on the photo above, but it was a sunny day when Coronado mistook the brown abode walls of Sky city for gold in searching for his seven cities of Cibola. Tours of Acoma Pueblo leave frequently from the Visitor Center, costing $10 for the tour and another $10 for a camera permit, but it is absolutely worth it. My guide, Orlando, was very friendly and informative, a real professional. The tour starts in the San Estevan del Rey Mission, set on the traditionally sacred ground of the Acoma. Both the church and Cemetery which fronts it are off limits for cameras. It was early and cloudy when I took my tour, but usually there are many vendors selling crafts along the way.

Next: El Malpais National Monument

Visited: May 2003		Southwest 2003
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