I recently wandered off of the I-40, past the cheesy casino that bears the same name, and up and into Sky City.
Sky City is the nickname of the Acoma Indian Pueblo that is built atop a mesa in Western New Mexico. Although this is not the mesa it’s built on, Sky City is built on top of a mesa just like this one. In addition to the novelty of being built 467 feet above ground, the pueblo is also interesting as it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States.
For a fee, you can have the privilege and pleasure of touring the community. After stumbling into the Visitor Center, I boarded a tram that took me along a back road up the mesa and into the town. Once there, I was surprised to find that the house-lined streets did not look remarkably different from other New Mexican neighborhoods. The flat brown roofs and boxy architecture reveal very little about the town’s history. Which is not to say they are not beautiful or worth seeing…
I cannot write about Sky City without mentioning the wares that are peddled fervently at every “rest break” along the tour. As is common with these New Mexican Pueblo Tours, the locals seem more concerned with passing on their trinkets than passing on their stories and history. The Acoma have a distinct style of pottery that is somewhat rare and renown, but there is something strange about seeing their stands scattered so amply throughout the ancient community. You practically have to trip over their pottery in order to explore.
I recommend forgoing the ride back to the ground on the tram in favor of making the trek down the traditional access-way. It is steep and a little scary, but provides valuable insight into the lives of the original mesa dwellers. Until recently, this treacherous path was the only route of access to the little community atop the mesa. All of the beautiful homes were built and filled using materials carried up this climb.
I have been on a few pueblo tours in New Mexico, and I believe this was one of the best. I like that Sky City is only a little over an hour outside of Albuquerque and it is fun and unexpected to discover it on top of the mesa. It is a beautiful community and provides beautiful views of the desert from its mesa vantage point. The pottery is interesting to look at and often times the person peddling it has first-hand knowledge of the work that goes into making it. Finally, hearing the history of the community and the Acoma people is a valuable reminder of the roots and cultural diversity of New Mexico that we too often forget while living in cities like Albuquerque. Or at least I do.
