Abó is located 10 miles southeast of Mountainair at the base of the Manzano Mountains at the intersection of the American Southwest and the Great Plains. There is a short and winding path through the Church, Convent, & Ruins which showcases the pueblo, the kivas, and the Spanish influence on its construction. Much like its other Salinas Ruins brethren, there is a curious kiva built at the same time as the Church, which began in 1628. Of course, that original church was expanded and enlarged beginning in 1658. The Kiva question has perplexed me but it could be as simple as a means to ease conversion. Meet at the kiva by the church to learn of Christ and the Church before going only to mass. The Ruins mostly consist of the church, the kiva, the convento, and buildings from the resettlement of 1865. The older & enormous pueblo remains only as mounds of rubble surrounding the once grand church.

To learn about the Spanish and Puebloans early interactions, listen to my podcast series over the Spanish Conquering of New Mexico.

The Spanish first arrived in 1581 and it was quite the large settlement. Like the other pueblos nearby though, Abó was abandoned in the 1670s due to disease, a prolonged drought, and constant Apache raids. In 1815 the Spanish returned but yet again, the Apache forced the people to flee. It wasn’t until 1865 when American Settlers finally returned and stayed.

From the Ruins, you can see the Manzano Mountains.