The Interpretive Center is open for your visit any time we have a member "on staff" and when another special event is not scheduled.* Our current schedule of days we are open is: Monday Morning Tuesday Morning and afternoon Wednesday Morning and afternoon Friday Morning Saturday Morning and afternoon
* Please check our calendar for Special Events.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The Friends of Tijeras Pueblo completed a new, permanent Interpretive Center next to the current interpretive trail that winds through the prehistoric Tijeras Pueblo archaeological site located in Tijeras, New Mexico. The Interpretive Center, nearly 1800 square feet in size, will focus on the 14th - 15th century occupations of the pueblo site.
We have been the fortunate recipients of a federal scenic by-ways grant that is being administered through the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Office of Tourism. These grant funds will enable us to complete the interior exhibits planned aroud the thene of "Living with the Land." Children and adults alike will find a variety of things sure to fascinate and educate - interactive exhibits and programs, an immersive multimedia learning station, interesting displays of actual artifacts excavated from the site and more!
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Interpretive Center Progress Report
Excavation Exhibit: Our first completed exhibit is already the talk of the new Interpretive Center. This exhibit depicts a life-sized model of an excavated ancestral pueblo room, featuring a "stratigraphy" wall, representing the layers, or tiers, excavated by the University of New Mexico Field School archaeologists and students in the 70s.Visitors are surprised to discover actual finds: a jaw bone, potsherds, and a rodent burrow. Five camouflaged drawers, one for each excavated level display sherds, animal bones, and lithics representing real artifacts found from different time periods of the Tijeras Pueblo occupation.The exhibit includes a fire pit in the floor and a wooden post wrapped with twine in preparation for tree ring studies (dendrochronology). An interactive "dig box" holds typical tools and materials that archaeologists use in excavations. Three clipboard activities are available for visitors who wish to observe the exhibit in more detail.The exhibit and activities were designed by Dr. Linda Cordell, who led the University of New Mexico Field School excavations at Tijeras Pueblo in 1975 and 1977.She is currently a Senior Scholar at the School for Advance Research in Santa Fe.
Learning Stations In addition to this completed exhibit are six "Learning Stations" which are still in the planning and construction stages. The cabinetry for these stations is already installed. Some of these stations will include audio-visual components. Five of the stations have themes relating to the daily life in an ancestral pueblo: Food, Clothing, Tools, Pottery and Shelter. A sixth station will feature archaeological techniques and methods.
We have established contact with Sandia and Isleta Pueblos for consultation on areas of cultural sensitivity. These pueblos have agreed to advise us on the display of certain artifacts and symbols.
Be sure to watch this web site for additional information about the Interpretive Center.
Garden Opportunities.......
Do you know what a waffle garden is?
.......Come and visit our pueblo site and find out for yourself......
Current Events and Garden Activities Each spring, our master gardner, Kay McCash, directs new plantings. Now, the garden has sprouted and so have the weeds!! Won't you volunteer to help help with weeding and watering on Tuesday, June 15th, 8:00 am to 10 am. Bring gloves, hat, drinking water and your favorite weeding tool. Wish for a nice monsoon the day before...
This picture shows the actual "Bricks & Mortar" contstruction of the Interpretive Center and was named The AdobeProject. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the numerous local businesses, sponsors and volunteers who contributed so generously in the materials, dollars and time that helped to make the beginning of our dream a reality.
How we looked in the early fall of 2006
An early shot of the Center "in progress." Doors and windows are installed, just waiting for the exterior stucco.
Sneak inside and see some of the interior development.
Fundraising for the New Interpretive Center
Could we please count on your help??
Raising the needed funds to develop and implement quality educational programs and interactive educational exhibits for the new Interpretive Center at the Tijeras Pueblo archaeological site is a very big task indeed. In order to create a valuable resource for public and pueblo schools, as well as an interesting and educational facility open to local residents and visitors to our lovely state, we must look for any and all possible avenues to fund the project. If you are in any way able to contribute money or your valuable time to further this wonderful cause, just click on the the image of the donating hand and it will take you to our "Join Us" page of this website. Could we please count on your help??
Do you sponsor or know of a foundation that makes grants available for educational or cultural programs? Please contact us and share the information with us to foster this exciting and valuable project! Email us at: joinus@friendsoftijeraspueblo.org
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The interpretive trail as it winds around the main room block portion of the covered pueblo site
