Pecos National Historical Park

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Pecos National Historical Park
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Pecos National Historical Park
Location Santa Fe and San Miguel Counties, New Mexico, USA
Nearest city Santa Fe, New Mexico
Coordinates 35°32′59″N 105°41′21″W / 35.54972, -105.68917
Area 6,670 acres (27 km²)
Established June 28, 1965
Visitors 35,782 (in 2005)
Governing body National Park Service

Pecos National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is located about 25 miles (40 km) east of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The site was originally designated Pecos National Monument on June 28, 1965. In 1990 new lands were added to the park and the official designation was changed to Pecos National Historical Park.

Pecos pueblo and mission church
Pecos pueblo and mission church

Pecos National Historical Park is composed of several noncontiguous units. The main unit of the park preserves the ruins of Pecos Pueblo which is thought to have been established sometime during the 14th century. The main unit also protects the remains of Mission Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Porciúncula de los Pecos, a Spanish mission near the pueblo built in the early 1600s. A 1.25 mile (2 kilometer) self-guiding trail begins at the nearby visitor center and winds through the ruins of Pecos Pueblo and the mission church.

Other park units protect the Glorieta Pass Battlefield, site of the American Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass, as well as a stretch of wagon ruts along the old Santa Fe Trail. Both the Glorieta and Santa Fe units are currently closed to public use but can be visited on scheduled, ranger-guided tours.

Another part of the park is the Forked Lightning Ranch home designed by John Gaw Meem for Tex Austin and later occupied by Greer Garson.

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