Summer Solstice

Aztec Ruins National Monument will be hosting their summer solstice sunrise observation on June 20. Visitors will be able to observe the sun rising in alignment with the north wall of the Aztec West great house just before 6:00 am. After this, visitors will be invited to enter the great kiva to observe a shaft of sunlight shine through a doorway on the east side of the kiva as it travels across the west wall and aligns directly with a niche in the wall. Park staff will open the park entrance gate at 5:30 am. Visitors should park in the visitor center parking lot, and staff will direct them into the site. The park grounds will remain open after the event. There is no entry fee for Aztec Ruins National Monument.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park will host a viewing of the sunrise alignment at Casa Rinconada on June 21 and 22 for the first 100 participants each day. The gates will open at 5:15 am and visitors should arrive early to catch the 5:55 am sunrise. As the sun rises just before 6:00 am, it will shine directly through a window on the northeast side of the kiva, illuminating a niche in the opposite wall shortly after sunrise. The Chacoans were keen observers of the sky and created architectural alignments like the east-west/north-south alignment of Casa Rinconada to document specific solar events.

To celebrate the beginning of summer, a full slate of programs and special events will be occurring throughout the week.The MaaTuu dance group of Santa Clara pueblo will be performing in the Pueblo Bonito plaza three times: Thursday at 10:00 am, Thursday at 1:00 pm, and Friday at 10:00 am. A special performance by R. Carlos Nakai, the world’s premier performer of the Native American flute and Grammy-nominated musician, will be performing at Casa Rinconada during the sunrise on June 21 st . On Saturday, June 22nd at 10:00 am, join a ranger for a special backcountry hike to the Casa Chaquita site to learn about the hidden wonders of this national park and World Heritage Site. For the full slate of talks, performances, hikes and other programs being offered this week, please view our calendar on our park website.