State Monuments have been established to preserve some of New Mexico’s
historic and archeologic sites of importance. These include the mission
ruins of Abo, Quarai, Pecos, and Jemez, the Palace of the Governors in
Santa Fe, pueblo ruins at Coronado State Monument, the old Lincoln
County Courthouse, the archeologic site at Folsom Man State Monument,
the plaza and nearby Mexican Colonial-style buildings in La Mesilla, and
Fort Selden. The history recorded at these sites dates from 10,000 B.C.
of Clovis Man to 1878 of the cattlemen’s Lincoln County War.
State parks cover areas of scenic beauty, geologic wonders, and historic
interest. Reservoir lakes yielding necessary water, good fishing,
swimming, and boating include Conchas, Storrie, Bluewater, El Vado, Ute,
Elephant Butte, Caballo, Alamogordo, Clayton, Morphy, and Bottomless
Lakes. The latter are natural sink holes east of Roswell. Hyde Memorial
Park and Santa Fe River Park, near and in Santa Fe, provide scenic
picnic spots, as do Rock Hound State Park near Deming and Oasis State
Park near Portales and Clovis. Picnicking, fishing, and spectacular
canyons attract the visitor at Rio Grande Gorge Park west of Taos. Weird
erosional figures carved from volcanic layers distinguish City of Rocks
State Park near Deming. Pancho Villa State Park at Columbus and Kit
Carson Memorial at Taos mark historic sites. Valley of Fires State Park
west of Carrizozo preserves the black twisted lava of a relatively
recent volcanic flow.