Ojo Caliente in Taos County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Santa Cruz

† † †

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 28, 2013

1. Santa Cruz Marker

Inscription. The Santa Cruz Catholic Church was built after 1793 and was licensed on January 13, 1811, and blessed on January 3, 1812.

The restoration of the historic Santa Cruz Catholic Church of Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, began in April, 1991, by the community of Ojo Caliente and other volunteers, assisted by the New Mexico Community Foundation. It was completed on September 16, 1994. The blessing and rededication by Archbishop Michael Sheehan occurred on September 24, 1994.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1865.

Location. 36° 18.171′ N, 106° 2.845′ W. Marker is in Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, in Taos County. It is on State Road 414 just west of U.S. 285 when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ojo Caliente NM 87549, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest

and in the Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

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 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: El Rito (approx. 8.1 miles away); a different marker also named El Rito (approx. 8.3 miles away); Welcome to the Church of San Juan Nepomuceno (approx. 8.4 miles away); Embudo Stream-Gaging Station (approx.

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9 miles away); Rio Grande Gaging Station (approx. 9 miles away); Velarde (approx. 9.9 miles away); Agueda S. Martinez (1898–2000) (approx. 12½ miles away); Historic Los Luceros (approx. 13.4 miles away).

Santa Cruz and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 28, 2013

2. Santa Cruz and Marker

Closeup to the Right of the Doors image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 28, 2013

3. Closeup to the Right of the Doors

“Clapper to the old La Santa Cruz Catholic Church Bell.”

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,466 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 1, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.