Petroglyph National Monument

Located in Albuquerque’s west mesa, the Petroglyph National Monument holds some of New Mexico’s oldest history.  The Monument protects five large volcanic cones and stretches 17 miles on the western horizon. There are an estimated 24,000 ancient paintings and carvings found on numerous rocks and caves in the petroglyphs.  The carvings came from the ancient Pueblo peoples as well as early Spanish settlers. Most images are easy to decode but some are very complex and only understood by the person who carved it.

The Petroglyphs became a National Monument in 1990 to protect and preserve the 7,244 acres of history. The park is open to the public year round and preserved by the National park service and the City of Albuquerque.