Near Hanover in Grant County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Kneeling Nun

Photographed by Bryan R. Bauer, September 28, 2004

1. Kneeling Nun Marker

Inscription. Most famous of the many historic landmarks in the Black Range country is the Kneeling Nun. So named for its resemblance to a nun kneeling in prayer before a great altar. Many legends have grown up around the giant monolith which rests near the summit of the Santa Rita Range.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location. 32° 48.177′ N, 108° 7.276′ W. Marker is near Hanover, New Mexico, in Grant County. It is on Scenic State Road 152 at milepost 2.3, 2.3 miles east of U.S. 180, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hanover NM 88041, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest New Mexico. It is also in the American Southwest.

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 Gadsden Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ladies Auxiliary of Local 890 (a few steps from this marker); Fort Bayard (approx. 2.1 miles away); Santa Rita Copper Mines (approx. 2.3 miles away); Fort Bayard - 1866-1900 / Fort Bayard National Cemetery (approx. 2.3 miles away); Reclaiming the Land (approx. 2.8 miles away); Modern Mining & Processing (approx. 2.8 miles away); Santa Rita Copper Mine (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Companies & People (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hanover.

Regarding Kneeling Nun.

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The marker references a stone monolith near a mountain peak which is also named Kneeling Nun Peak. The monolith itself is located at 32 47.098N 108 03.653W. These are the coordinates usually returned when a search is conducted for this landmark. The stone monolith is threatened by the expansion of an open copper mine that is in close proximity to the landmark.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 6, 2010

2. Kneeling Nun Marker

Ladies Auxiliary of Local 890 marker is in background.

Rear of Kneeling Nun Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 6, 2010

3. Rear of Kneeling Nun Marker

Kneeling Nun Monolith and Giant Altar image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bryan R. Bauer, September 28, 2004

4. Kneeling Nun Monolith and Giant Altar

The Kneeling Nun image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2014

5. The Kneeling Nun

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. This page has been viewed 6,318 times since then and 338 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1. submitted on August 24, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4. submitted on August 24, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. 5. submitted on October 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.