Bernalillo in Sandoval County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Kuaua Ruins

A Registered Cultural Property

— State of New Mexico —

Kuaua Ruins Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025

1. Kuaua Ruins Marker

Inscription.
These ruins date from the 12th to the 16th centuries. The Coronado Expedition spent the winter of 1540-41 in the area.

Erected by State of New Mexico and Museum of New Mexico. (Marker Number 225.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Hispanic Americans • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 35° 19.797′ N, 106° 33.41′ W. Marker is in Bernalillo, New Mexico, in Sandoval County. It is on Kuaua Road half a mile east of U.S. 550. The marker is located in the Kuaua Ruins (Coronado Historic Site). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 485 Kuaua Rd, Bernalillo NM 87004, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the San Juan Basin

and in Greater Albuquerque.

It is also in the American Southwest

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Archaeological excavations / Excavaciones arqueológicas (a few steps from this marker); The Siege of Kuaua (a few steps from this marker); Pueblo (a few steps from this marker); Was Coronado Ever at Kuaua? (a few steps from this marker); Francisco Vasquez de Coronado (within shouting distance of this marker); El Pueblo de Kuaua / Kuaua Pueblo (within shouting distance of this marker); Agricultura Pueblo / Pueblo Agriculture

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Cultivos y animales nativas / Native Crops and Animals (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bernalillo.

More about this marker. There is a small fee to visit the Kuaua Ruins (Coronado Historic Site).

Also see . . . Coronado Historic Site. New Mexico Historic Sites

Coronado Historic Site and the ancient Kuaua Pueblo are located just minutes north of Albuquerque (off of I-25, Exit 242) in Bernalillo. In 1540, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado—with 500 soldiers and 2,000 Indigenous allies from New Spain—entered the Rio Grande valley somewhere near this site. Coronado was searching for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold.

(Submitted on May 25, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Kuaua Ruins Marker at the entrance to the visitors center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025

2. The view of the Kuaua Ruins Marker at the entrance to the visitors center

Coronado Historic Site Visitors Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025

3. Coronado Historic Site Visitors Center

Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025

4. Kuaua Ruins

A Kiva and reconstructed Pueblo structure image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025

5. A Kiva and reconstructed Pueblo structure

The nearby Rio Grande River and mountains image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 9, 2025

6. The nearby Rio Grande River and mountains

Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 25, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.