Place

Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area

Sedimentary rock outcrop with greenery in the background and blue sky with clouds.
Chimney Rock

Northern Rio Grand NHA Photo

Quick Facts
Location:
New Mexico
Significance:
Established on October 12, 2006, the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area assists local communities and residents in preserving the unique cultural, historical and natural resources in the New Mexico counties of Rio Arriba, Taos, and Santa Fe.
Designation:
National Heritage Area
MANAGED BY:
Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, Inc.

The mountains and high desert of North Central New Mexico cradle the homelands of Native peoples, who have inhabited the area for thousands of years. Current descendants include the Jicarilla Apache Tribe and eight northern Pueblo settlements. The area comprising the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area also includes descendants of Spanish colonists who settled in the area permanently, beginning in 1598, nearly two centuries before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

Within the boundaries of the Heritage Area, which covers over 10,000 square miles of land, there are a great number of natural, cultural and historical points of interest that for centuries have drawn generations of settlers from other parts of the United States and the world.  There has been a consistent blending of cultures for hundreds of years, but there remains a definite and distinctly ethnic cultural flavor to the lifestyles and composition of the population. 

The Heritage Area is world renownd as a center of arts and for the continuing presence of its cultural heritage. The Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area focuses its mission around three major strategies:

  • Support traditions, heritage and culture to enhance understanding and awareness of the Heritage Area’s stories and resources.
  • Create partnerships to collaborate in achieving cultural preservation.
  • Promote economic development and heritage tourism.
The Heritage Area includes the following sites:

Tags

Last updated: October 10, 2019