State #18!! New Mexico & Aztec Ruins National Park

After leaving the 4 Corners Monument, we went to the northwestern side of New Mexico.  We will be leaving soon, heading on to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but will visit some more of New Mexico later.  :)

In the small town of Farmington, NM, there is a National Park: Aztec Ruins.
What is kind of funny about this though;  it was never occupied by the Aztecs!  It was rumored that they lived here about 1000 years ago, and they even named a town close by, Aztec, NM., but it was not the Aztecs, but the Pueblos that lived in these dwellings.  ;)  They were able to figure this out after a little research and many artifacts found in the area.  In fact, the Aztecs never moved farther north than Mexico.

With that explained, we visited the Aztec Ruins, that never occupied the Aztecs, and earned another Jr. Ranger badge!

 Hundreds of Indians could live in these ruins.  (the boys thought it would be fun to have an air-soft gun-fight in the ruins!)   :)

 This is the 'Grand Kiva' where they would hold their worship services.
Below, is the inside of the 'Grand Kiva.'

This ladder is around 900 years old, and could still hold a grown man today!

The Yucca tree was used to make baskets, blankets, bowls, clothing and tools for the Pueblo Indians.

Yeah Golden Gang!

Blessings,
Steph