| What makes it historical? |
Spanish explorers from Mexico first arrived at the thriving pueblo of Abó in 1581, then Gran Quivira in 1583. Spanish colonists, led by Don Juan de Oñate, returned in 1598 and made notes about the pueblos that would attract the attention of Franciscan friars, Juan Gutierrez de la Chica, Francisco Fonte, and Alonso de Benavides. At the pueblos of Abó, Gran Quivira, and Quarai, they set up missions to convert the Tompiro and Tiwa tribes, calling this area the Salinas District!
The churches and convents were unique in style, incorporating native kivas into their design. The kivas, underground meeting rooms, were valuable to members of the tribe who wished to continue their ancient practices out of view of the priests. This missionary system kept up for almost fifty years until a combination of drought, famine, disease, and raids by the Apache tribe led to a complete abandonment of all three pueblos. |
