Los Alamos in Los Alamos County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Peggy Pond Church

(1903–1986)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 14, 2012

1. Peggy Pond Church Marker

Inscription.

Peggy Pond Church, author of the Southwest classic The House at Otowi Bridge and daughter of Los Alamos Ranch School founder Ashley Pond, will forever be “The First Lady of New Mexican Poetry.” As she rode the Pajarito Plateau and camped beneath tall pines, she came to understand that “it is the land that wants to be said.” She captured it in her sensitive poems.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Women.

Location. 35° 52.805′ N, 106° 18.166′ W. Marker is in Los Alamos, New Mexico, in Los Alamos County. It is at the intersection of Trinity Drive (State Road 502) and 20th Street on Trinity Drive. The marker is at Ashley Pond. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Los Alamos NM 87544, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ice House Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (within shouting distance of this marker); Los Alamos National Laboratory Today (within shouting distance of this marker); Manhattan Project National Historical Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ashley Pond Park (about 500 feet away); Manhattan Project Era (about 600 feet away); Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer & Gen. Leslie Groves Sculptures (about 600 feet away); Historic Fuller Lodge (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Alamos.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Ice House Memorial (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. The House at Otowi Bridge: The Story of Edith Warner and Los Alamos. First published in 1973. Amazon.com book description: This is the story of Edith Warner, who lived for more than twenty years as a neighbor to the Indians of San Ildefonso Pueblo,

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 14, 2012

2. Peggy Pond Church Marker

near Los Alamos, New Mexico. She was a remarkable woman, a friend to everyone who knew her, from her Indian companion Tilano, who was an elder of San Ildefonso, to Niels Bohr, Robert Oppenheimer, and the other atomic scientists who worked at Los Alamos during World War II. "A finely told tale of a strange land and of a rare character who united with it and, without seeming to do anything to that end, exerted an unusual influence upon all other lovers of that soil with whom she came in contact. The quality of the country, of the many kinds of people, and of the central character come through excellently.”—Oliver La Farge (Submitted on April 27, 2013.) This website may earn income if you use this link to make a purchase on Amazon.com.

2. Wikipedia Entry for Los Alamos Ranch School. “In November 1942, the school and the surrounding land were purchased by the United States Army’s Manhattan Engineering District for use in the top-secret effort to develop the first atomic bomb. The school awarded its final diplomas in January 1943 and the Army took control of the property the following month.” (Submitted on April 27, 2013.)

Peggy Pond Church Marker and Ashley Pond image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 14, 2012

3. Peggy Pond Church Marker and Ashley Pond

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,565 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 27, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.