Arts & Culture Come Alive
in Rio Rancho
As New Mexico's most modern city, Rio Rancho is surrounded by historic sites with cultural significance. Visitors can see ancient rock carvings, centuries-old Hispanic artifacts and Native American pueblo ruins by day. And by night, Rio Rancho's new Santa Ana Star Center is the premiere place to catch live entertainment and sporting events in New Mexico's most progressive events center.
Casa San Ysidro Historic Museum and Old Church
In the neighboring Village of Corrales, Casa San Ysidro displays the authentic setting of Spanish-colonial rancho featuring period artifacts. For more information call (505) 898-3915 or visit www.cabq.gov/museum/history. The Old Church across the street was built in the 1860's out of adobe bricks and mud. Locals still maintain the authentic structure to this day. For more information call (505) 897-1513.
Coronado State Monument
The Tiwa pueblo of Kuaua once stood here on the banks of the Rio Grande and was first settled around A.D. 1300 by Native Americans who had long known about the fertile land. In 1540 the expedition of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado camped near here. A 1930s excavation uncovered a square kiva with many layers of mural paintings considered to be some of the finest examples of pre-Columbian art in North America. Both the kiva and one of the mural layers are open to visitors. The visitor center contains prehistoric and historical Indian and Spanish colonial artifacts. Located minutes from Rio Rancho off U.S. 550, one mile west of I-25, Exit 242. For more information, visit the Coronado State Monument or call (505) 867-5351.
J & R Vintage Auto Museum
Located in Rio Rancho, this classic car museum offers a close up view of more than 60 restored cars, trucks, including 10 cars that ran the Great American Race. For more information, visitthe J&R Vintage Auto Museum or call (888) 298-1885.
Jemez State Monument
Just a short drive north, the Jemez State Monument is one of the most beautiful prehistoric sites in the Southwest. Standing among the stone ruins of a 500-year-old Indian village, the site was built in the narrow San Diego Canyon by ancestors of the present-day people of Jemez Pueblo. The monument is also the site of the massive San Jose de los Jemez Church, a Catholic mission built in the 17th century. The heritage center contains exhibitions that tell the story of the site through the words of the Jemez people, and an interpretive trail winds through the site ruins. Located in Jemez Springs, 43 miles north of Rio Rancho, on New Mexico Highway 4. For more information, learn more about this scenic day trip. or call (505) 829-3530.
National Hispanic Cultural Center
Located in nearby Albuquerque, the colorful flags of two-dozen Hispanic countries stand as symbols of the cultural center's mission - to create a greater understanding and cross-cultural appreciation of Hispanic culture. Commemorating 400 years of Hispanic tradition, the center presents traditional and contemporary art and hosts a captivating variety of dance, theater, special events and educational programs amid striking architecture with motifs from Spain and Latin America. Visit www.nhccnm.org or call (505) 246-2261.
Petroglyph National Monument
On the outskirts of Rio Rancho, visitors can explore up to 15,000 ancient rock carvings etched centuries ago by Native American artists who depicted their daily lives. For more information, visit Petroglyph National Monument or call (505) 899-0205.
Santa Ana Star Center
Rio Rancho's hottest new events and sports venue is host to the New Mexico Scorpions hockey team, and offers the hottest ticket in town for live entertainment. This state-of-the-art events arena seats up to 8,000 and is the state's first entertainment facility featuring wireless connectivity for site-side concession order delivery, cell phone and Internet access. Visit the Santa Ana Star Center or call (505) 891-7300 for event information and tickets.
To download an Adobe Acrobat version of Rio Rancho's nearby Native American Pueblos, click here.
