Aztec Ruins National Monument
| Aztec Ruins National Monument | |
|---|---|
| Location | San Juan County, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Aztec |
| Coordinates | 36°50′09″N 107°59′53″W / 36.8358370°N 107.9981235°W |
| Area | 318 acres (129 ha) |
| Created | January 24, 1923 |
| Visitors | 52,756 (in 2017) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Aztec Ruins National Monument |
| Part of | Chaco Culture National Historical Park |
| Type | U.S. historic district |
| Designated | October 18, 1966 |
| Reference no. | 66000484 |
| Designated | May 21, 1971 |
| Reference no. | 55 |
The Aztec Ruins National Monument in northwestern New Mexico, United States, consists of preserved structures constructed by the Pueblo Indians. The national monument lies on the western bank of the Animas River in Aztec, New Mexico, about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Farmington. Additional Puebloan structures can be found in Salmon Ruins and Heritage Park, 9.5 miles (15.3 km) south. Archaeological evidence puts the construction of the ruins in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Puebloan-built ruins were dubbed the "Aztec Ruins" by 19th century American settlers who misattributed their construction to the Aztecs.
The site was declared "Aztec Ruin National Monument" on January 24, 1923. "Ruin" was changed to "Ruins" after a boundary change, on July 2, 1928. As a historical property of the National Park Service, the monument was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed the Chaco Culture as a World Heritage Site on December 8, 1987. That listing specifically included the Aztec Ruins.
The monument is on the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway, one of New Mexico's Scenic Byways.
The property was part of a 160-acre (65 ha) homestead owned by H.D. Abrams, who supported the preservation of the ruins. The H.D. Abrams House in Aztec is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.