Aztec Ruins National Monument is a prehistoric Puebloan site constructed circa AD 1100, featuring a Great Kiva and interconnected ceremonial structures. The location was connected to Chaco through a southern road. Notably, the Great Kiva has been reconstructed to provide insight into its original appearance. Additionally, several rooms maintain their original roofs intact. Visitors can learn more about the site through the informative museum attached to it.
Fantastic walk through site. Great for kids education and growth. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
Good parking, and parking for RVs and trailers in the back.
Approximately 30 to 45 walking tour outside through amazing ruins. Great display of unearthed artifacts and information. Recommend watching the free short welcome Film in the theater before the walking tour.
All Free, but try donating a little of that colone cancer McDonald's Burger money you suck down to a good cause and help keep places like this open.
We highly recommend this for a visit.
RGRAPPLER InOC — Google review
Extremely friendly staff, interacted with 4 members, all helpful and friendly. Nice walking trail with points of interest to learn about the ancient culture. Nice small museum, large ruins, largely original with some minor reconstruction. Several intact rooms, with decorative banding in and the walls intact. Fantastic experience. Good parking and clean restrooms.
Steven Holland — Google review
After spending 6-weeks at Mesa Verde, and absorbing knowledge it was cool to visit another site with ruins. The way these buildings were built, the time, effort, knowledge is all extraordinary. We enjoyed walking through and reading from the $2 guidebook versus the free audio tour available on your phone. Learning about the ancient ones is always fascinating.
Trippin? with the Southers — Google review
What a gem. One of the most unique national monuments I've been to. So much history. There's a small informative exhibit and a gift store. A lovely picnic area. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable. Definitely worth a visit/detour.
Katrina W — Google review
Definitely a fun place to visit. Free to park and go in. Cute little gift shop, then go outside and have a blast exploring the ruins. Follow the trails and markers. You can even climb inside a few of them and crawl around or bend down to get through the halls. There’s a tall trail up to the top to see the whole view of the ruins. Lots of play areas, great for all ages. It’s a historic site so that’s fun. I had so much fun crawling into dark places to see what’s on the other side. There was lots of people there too but everyone was pretty spread apart and respectful.
Tiffany C. — Google review
Know your history! Our family had an amazing time. Great audio tour, good short movie prior to the tour. My boys enjoyed walking through the almost labyrinth like ruins. Stay on the paved walkways unless you would like to drag mud in your car. They have a shoe cleaner by the door on the way back. ;) Restrooms were clean. Staff was welcoming. Highly recommended family adventure.
Eva Janosi — Google review
This is a must see site. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. The site looks big but actually very easy to navigate. There was a choice of a guidebook or cell phone audio app, or you could use a loaned spiral bound guide. Halfway through, a guide came out to give more information and answer questions. He pointed out little factoids that we would not have known like the numbered plugs found on the wood beams. I came away with a much greater appreciation of the ancient Pueblo and their unique way of life.
Lola Palooza — Google review
The place was incredible and so much history. I bought the trail guide and it was very helpful! The NPS staff is always helpful. If you come, you have to take the time to watch the 15 minute video it is well worth it! So much info
kimberly facenda — Google review
From all of the ruins we visited we enjoyed this the most. Walking through the rooms really gave you a feel for the living conditions. Very clean, helpful staff, nice gift shop with some high quality items. Museum was informative. No crowds on the Sunday we visited.
E Big — Google review
Easy to get to and of a manageable scale, these well preserved ruins were a delight. There were hardly any people there when we went, and the park staff was very helpful. To see the original timbers, and to be able to look from room to room is really remarkable
Yoga Chick — Google review
Real nice. Not a steep or long trail to go through the homes of the ancient people of the 4 Corners area. You can go right up and into the ancient homes. The visitor center is nice and informative. If you are interested in history, you will love this. Free admission and free parking. A little guide book is available for $2.
Shelley Baber — Google review
Wow this place is so cool!! Seeing the archaeologists at work was a treat. The great kiva is beautiful. So many artifacts in the museum as well. 5 ⭐️ for this well maintained national monument!
Sarah Dumont — Google review
A compact site that's accessible to everyone. There are steps but much can be seen from a paved path. The visitor center is very informative. Don't forget to pack a lunch for the adjoining park that is great for kids and pets (no pets at ruins site, please).
Ellis Cole — Google review
Small museum rich with history. You can view the museum, watch a short 15-minute video, take a tour with a ranger, or use an interactive map with commentary available. The area around ruins is well paved. Clean restrooms and picnic area.
LauraLee Beaton — Google review
This place is so neat! The history is very well preserved, the museum and walking trails are a really nice outing. Highly recommend!
Kitty Matz — Google review
Super cool place where you can learn about the place and people who lived there in the past. A very interesting introduction video is played in the Visitor Center. There’s also a National Park Passport stamp station.
Outside at the ruins, it’s possible to walk around, and even inside and see them up close. There’s also QR codes where you can get more information of the place you’re standing.
Staff very kind and helpful. Restrooms available onsite.
Uki Bear — Google review
Really great historical place to visit and very thankful for the opportunity to visit. Fascinating and impressive. Visited at a great time, barely and visitors, plenty of time to explore and enjoy the entire monument.
William Hartman — Google review
absolutely incredible historical site with a beautiful parks building. the parks building is less than 1000 feet from the ruins which is great for anyone looking to visit ruins without the long hike out to them. this site holds a restored kiva which truly sparks the imagination: it must have been incredible to see when communities gathered there. hand-constructed before stone tools, chacoan structure of significant beauty and importance: please respect it as a sacred site if you visit (and be sure to check the audio!)
simone eckhardt — Google review
Very interesting site. Enjoyed the museums and the ruins. I am disabled and it’s mostly wheelchair accessible, so that is a definite plus. And it’s free!
Linda Grassman — Google review
It was very impressive to see what this culture was able to construct so long ago. The fact that a majority of the construction is still standing is a testament to this. We were able to walk through a majority of the ruins, which was really informative.
Laurence Meth — Google review
Great historical site. I was downplaying this site because of the major national sites that are nearby. However, this easy access national monument offers just as much insight into the region only in a thimble full.
S Kline — Google review
This NPS site does not charge an entry fee. However, I recommend strongly purchasing a guide for the nominal cost of $2, such that you know what the structures are (they are labeled with numbers). The visitor centre also serves as a small but nicely done museum telling the history of the site and the Pueblo people. Although there is no unequivocal evidence, it is speculated that the thriving Aztec community, which took a century from design to completion, was abandoned due to the combination of social instability, drought and exhaustion of resources. We spent the whole morning exploring the site, and the most amazing of which is the reconstructed great kiva (the largest kiva on this site). The Pueblo people are probably the most religious population ever existed.
The Aztec Museum & Pioneer Village is a hidden gem with friendly staff and an impressive collection of antiques and historical artifacts. The highlight is the authentic buildings from different eras that have been relocated to the village for display. Despite being under-advertised, it offers great value for the cost and is worth a visit if you're in the area.
This place was so interesting and great the! the staff was really friendly and went above and beyond for me and my family. there's tons of antiques& history but my favorite part of all is that the buildings in their Village were actually the real buildings from whichever developing town they were from in different eras. they were just relocated to the Aztec museum for display. this place is under advertised and I don't think it gets as much credit as it deserves. And the cost per person is way more than reasonable.!! So if you're interested or even just have some free time on your hands I highly recommend stopping on by!!
Sluggo B.datHitter — Google review
This is such an interesting and broad museum that covers all sorts of aspects of Aztec, NM history and the people that have lived here. Definitely check it out if you are nearby, and don't miss the cyclorama!
Jake Schmetterer — Google review
What a lovely museum and park/village! Highly recommend if you are in the area.
Jenny Gleason — Google review
I can't help but say GOOD things about this museum! The price can't be beat, the staff is friendly, and there is so much to look at! I brought my son here last year and thought it was great then too!! 👍👍 I also purchased a cook book from here and thought is was the most darling thing with all the local recipes! Cute!
Gabrielle Aragon — Google review
The lady in the front was super nice [: I enjoyed this place so much! If you love history, stop by! You'll spend up to two hours here ! It is self guided, which is a huge plus. I definitely want to come back for a second time ! [The mannequin in the old bank scared me so much I screamed when I walked in! Haha made for a good laugh with my mom. ]
Janae L — Google review
It is really a good museum and it shows the history of the town of Aztec.
Not so much of the history of the Indian culture, but it is very interesting with the old buildings and shops with all the different professionals business.
Sieger Hartgers — Google review
Great local museum, good way to spend an hr or two. Lovely host. Lots to see.
jessica bryan — Google review
Great place to stop and look around outside, unfortunately the building was closed so we could not stop in. Would also recommend checking out the Aztec Ruins National Monument in the area.
Daniel Ripley — Google review
A very interesting museum for such a small town. Highly recommended!
The Aztec Police Department was taking traffic enforcement very seriously that morning. Observe speed limit signs! (No, we didn't get stopped).