Set in Stone
Located along the meandering Animas River, New Mexico’s Aztec Ruins National Monument offers visitors a glimpse of Indigenous human history 1,000 years past. Despite the suggestive name, the Aztecs never called this place home. The true inhabitants are generally known as Ancestral Puebloans, the ancestors of American Indian people who are still living in the Southwest today. The impressive structures found at Aztec are the culmination of a dynamic culture at its peak, serving as a community center for trade, agriculture and ceremony in the San Juan Basin. Along with Aztec’s National Monument status, it is also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. And, best of all, entry is free to the public! Here’s a look: