It’s impossible to distill the essence of our state into a mere 26 letters. Nevertheless, it’s a place to start. With certain letters, there seemed endless options, while others proved more challenging. So, here is one version of the alphabet you might not have thought of – the ABCs of New Mexico! With so many amazing places in New Mexico to explore and enjoy, this list is just a starting point; how many have you visited, experienced, or known about?
Would you change any of these letters? What does your version of a New Mexico A to Z look like?
Flickr/Kent Kanouse
Many of New Mexico’s buildings are constructed in Pueblo style, although you’ll also see some Territorial-style structures.
delta_avi_delta/Flickr
The best way to start your day.
Flickr/Krissa Corbett Cavouras
Chile and corn are key ingredients in our state’s delicious cuisine. Did you know that chiles are packed with Vitamin C?
Flickr/R0Ng
New Mexico’s landscape and culture are both equally diverse.
Wikimedia Commons/Steve Jurvetson
Flickr/Larry Lamsa
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without farolitos lining the walls of buildings and emitting a soft glow of light.
Flickr/Keary O.
Ghost towns are scattered across New Mexico, many of which are old mining settlements. Pictured is the ghost town of Hagan.
Flickr/Rennett Stowe
New Mexico boasts the oldest state capital in the country. The oldest house and church can also be found in Santa Fe. Pictured is the San Miguel Chapel.
Flickr/Bill L
Our state may not be home to any major league teams, but we do have the Isotopes. The team is actually named after an episode of “The Simpsons” during which Homer discovers that his sports team (the Springfield Isotopes) intend to relocate to Albuquerque. In a public vote to determine the real team’s name, two out of three people voted for the name “Isotopes.”
Flickr/Patrick Alexander
Spanish conquistadors were the ones to originally christen this desert. Its sinister name is a reference to the challenges of crossing this water-parched portion of the state. Then, on July 16th, 1945, the area was used as the test site for the world’s first nuclear weapons tests, making the name suitable for an entirely different reason.
Flickr/Bureau of Land Management
…and all the other national monuments in our state. Did you know that New Mexico has a total of 35 state and National Parks, preserves, trails, and monuments?
Wikimedia Commons/Mathew Brady
Wallace was a general in the Union Army, the governor of the New Mexico Territory, and he wrote “Ben Hur.”
…which New Mexico has in abundance.
Flickr/Artotem
Georgia O’Keeffe is probably the most famous of the many artists who have flocked to New Mexico. While the O’Keeffe Museum is located in Santa Fe, this image depicts Ghost Ranch, where the artist lived.
Wikimedia Commons/The Architect of the Capitol
Following years of religious oppression, Popé united the northern tribes against Spanish rule in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The Spanish did eventually retake the land in 1692.
There are four different types of quail in New Mexico: Gambel’s quail, Scaled quail, Northern bobwhite, and Montezuma quail, and they. Are. ADORABLE.
Flickr/Daxis
This one river is the lifeblood of our state.
Beau Rogers/Flickr
No matter what other states may claim, New Mexico’s are the best!
Wikimedia Commons/Tim Evanson
Long before tourists began buying belts adorned with huge chunks of this rock, Native Americans were mining for turquoise in the Cerrillos hills. Turquoise from here made its way to places like Chaco Canyon. Later on, the jewelry store, Tiffany, owned a turquoise mine in Cerrillos.
Flickr/Thomas Hawk
Tucumcari, Albuquerque, and Gallup are some of the best places to gain a sense of what the Mother Road was like in its heyday.
YoTuT/Flickr
The (now extinct) volcanoes in New Mexico literally shaped our state.
Flickr/TJfrom AZ
New Mexico had more than its share of outlaws and lawmen. In fact, the Lincoln County War took place here.
Okay, this “X” is a bit of a stretch but, for better or worse, our state will forever be associated with UFOs.
Flickr/Martin LaBar
The yucca is our state flower. Yucca moths are solely responsible for pollinating this plant.
This symbol decorates our state flag. The Zia sun symbol features four sets of four rays. These represent the seasons, the cardinal directions, the different parts of the day, and the phases of life.
Despite its name, the entrances of the Roundhouse replicate this symbol when viewed from above.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
ABCs of New Mexico August 10, 2022 Tori Jane What are some fun New Mexico facts? New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment for a reason – or should we say lots of reasons? It’s a truly amazing place with lots to do and see, and like anywhere else, it’s got its fair share of fun facts and figures that are interesting to read up on. Did you know, for instance, that New Mexico is home to one of the most amazing cave systems in the world? It’s true – people come from around the world to experience Carlsbad Caverns, and it’s all ours! It’s illegal to trip a horse, and if you do so and the horse is injured, it becomes a felony (seriously). Oh, and it’s illegal to dance in a sombrero. We don’t know why. We don’t know if we want to know. What should I know about everything New Mexico? New Mexico is an amazing place. It’s filled with awe-inspiring natural wonders (check out some of our favorite natural wonders in New Mexico), incredible hiking trails (check out our favorite hiking trails in New Mexico), hot springs, culture, history, and so much more. You must know that when you arrive here you’re entering a magical place where Native American history mingles with modern-day arts. You should know it’s an amazing place for artists and anyone who appreciates the arts. There are numerous world-famous festivals in New Mexico every year that millions of people make the journey for, and some of the best restaurants in the United States can be found right here in the Land of Enchantment. What are some facts about New Mexico not everyone knows? The list of fun New Mexico facts goes on, and it goes on forever. Did you know the atomic bomb was developed and invented right here? Yeah, that’s probably one of the scarier facts about New Mexico out there. It’s also thought that New Mexico was the site of an actual UFO crash in the late 1940s, and to this day, it embraces this fully (go to Roswell, it’s a delight). There are hundreds of small towns in New Mexico perfect for escaping to, each with their own fun trivia and facts, too. We got statehood in 1912, and the population of the whole state is just over two million people.
The OIYS Visitor Center
ABCs of New Mexico
August 10, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some fun New Mexico facts? New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment for a reason – or should we say lots of reasons? It’s a truly amazing place with lots to do and see, and like anywhere else, it’s got its fair share of fun facts and figures that are interesting to read up on. Did you know, for instance, that New Mexico is home to one of the most amazing cave systems in the world? It’s true – people come from around the world to experience Carlsbad Caverns, and it’s all ours! It’s illegal to trip a horse, and if you do so and the horse is injured, it becomes a felony (seriously). Oh, and it’s illegal to dance in a sombrero. We don’t know why. We don’t know if we want to know. What should I know about everything New Mexico? New Mexico is an amazing place. It’s filled with awe-inspiring natural wonders (check out some of our favorite natural wonders in New Mexico), incredible hiking trails (check out our favorite hiking trails in New Mexico), hot springs, culture, history, and so much more. You must know that when you arrive here you’re entering a magical place where Native American history mingles with modern-day arts. You should know it’s an amazing place for artists and anyone who appreciates the arts. There are numerous world-famous festivals in New Mexico every year that millions of people make the journey for, and some of the best restaurants in the United States can be found right here in the Land of Enchantment. What are some facts about New Mexico not everyone knows? The list of fun New Mexico facts goes on, and it goes on forever. Did you know the atomic bomb was developed and invented right here? Yeah, that’s probably one of the scarier facts about New Mexico out there. It’s also thought that New Mexico was the site of an actual UFO crash in the late 1940s, and to this day, it embraces this fully (go to Roswell, it’s a delight). There are hundreds of small towns in New Mexico perfect for escaping to, each with their own fun trivia and facts, too. We got statehood in 1912, and the population of the whole state is just over two million people.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment for a reason – or should we say lots of reasons? It’s a truly amazing place with lots to do and see, and like anywhere else, it’s got its fair share of fun facts and figures that are interesting to read up on. Did you know, for instance, that New Mexico is home to one of the most amazing cave systems in the world? It’s true – people come from around the world to experience Carlsbad Caverns, and it’s all ours! It’s illegal to trip a horse, and if you do so and the horse is injured, it becomes a felony (seriously). Oh, and it’s illegal to dance in a sombrero. We don’t know why. We don’t know if we want to know.
What should I know about everything New Mexico?
New Mexico is an amazing place. It’s filled with awe-inspiring natural wonders (check out some of our favorite natural wonders in New Mexico), incredible hiking trails (check out our favorite hiking trails in New Mexico), hot springs, culture, history, and so much more. You must know that when you arrive here you’re entering a magical place where Native American history mingles with modern-day arts. You should know it’s an amazing place for artists and anyone who appreciates the arts. There are numerous world-famous festivals in New Mexico every year that millions of people make the journey for, and some of the best restaurants in the United States can be found right here in the Land of Enchantment.
What are some facts about New Mexico not everyone knows?
The list of fun New Mexico facts goes on, and it goes on forever. Did you know the atomic bomb was developed and invented right here? Yeah, that’s probably one of the scarier facts about New Mexico out there. It’s also thought that New Mexico was the site of an actual UFO crash in the late 1940s, and to this day, it embraces this fully (go to Roswell, it’s a delight). There are hundreds of small towns in New Mexico perfect for escaping to, each with their own fun trivia and facts, too. We got statehood in 1912, and the population of the whole state is just over two million people.
