Native American Culture Past & Present

There are many ancient Indian ruins in the Four Corners. Aztec Ruins National Monument, 14 miles east on Hwy. 516, provides a glimpse into the lives of the ancestors of modern puebloan people. This Chacoan style pueblo is over 800 years old and features the only fully reconstructed great kiva in the Southwest. A self-guided tour will lead you through this ancestral pueblo village. Admission is $5, kids 16 and under free. Golden Age, Eagle and Access Passes accepted.

Head south 7 miles on Hwy. 550 to Bloomfield, then west 3 miles on Hwy. 64 to Salmon Ruins and San Juan Archaeological Research Center and Library. The museum contains an extensive collection of artifacts from the excavation at Salmon Ruins. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds of Heritage Park at Salmon Ruins. The park is comprised of eight habitation units which represent human occupation of the San Juan Basin throughout thousands of years. Don't miss the original adobe Salmon homestead site which is full of unique memorabilia and pictures from the 1800s. Admission to the museum and for the self-guided tour is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for kids 6-16 and free for kids under 6.

Return to Farmington and visit some of the many trading posts in the area (see partial list) to shop for Native American arts, crafts, jewelry, pottery and rugs. Visit with the traders about the history of the trading post and how it exists today. You might even catch a demonstration by a local artist. Spend the evening under the stars at Farmington's Lion's Wilderness Park Amphitheater, located 2.5 miles north of San Juan College, during a performance of outdoor summer theater.