Meet Puye Cliff Dwellings
Puye Cliff Dwellings stands as a powerful testament to the ingenuity, resilience, and cultural legacy of the Santa Clara Pueblo. On the Pajarito Plateau in Northern New Mexico, this national historic landmark preserves the ancient home of the Santa Clara people, who lived, farmed, and thrived on the mesa and cliffs beginning around 900 years ago.
Owned and operated by Santa Clara Pueblo, Puye is a historic site and a living connection to New Mexico’s enduring culture. The site features cliffside dwellings carved into volcanic tuff, above-ground masonry structures, and panoramic views that stretch across the legendary high desert landscape.
Visitors can explore the dwellings through guided tours led by tribal members, whose storytelling and historical knowledge provide invaluable context. Each tour offers a deeper understanding of ancestral lifeways, architectural practices, and the enduring spirit of Santa Clara Pueblo.
As one of the few places in the region where Pueblo history is interpreted by Pueblo people, Puye Cliff Dwellings serves as a rare and respectful encounter with the Indigenous past and present. It is a place of learning, reverence, and awe.
