salmon ruins

Its a wonderfully kept place. It was very informative and well worth the stop. It might not have all the flash and flair that the Aztec Ruins have but the Salmon Ruins still is able to keep all there artifacts that have been excavated on their sight because they are not part of the national park system.

Great place to visit. We have gone many times over the years and always enjoy ourselves. They do a nice job displaying artifacts, information and scenes. You are able to have a hands on experience plus the largest collection of NM books / library.

It was something to do while we were staying in Farmington since there isn't much else. It was neat to see, if you are really into the native american history and such you would probably enjoy it. If you've been to Mesa Verde this will be a disappointment.

This is another site where visitors can see Ancestral Pueblo Ruins dating back to 11th-13th century. I especially liked these for three reasons (1) located right on highway 64, they are easy to access (2) they are not crowded and (3) the Heritage Park section features replicas of dwellings of other people who lived in the area including the Salmon Family Homestead going back to the 1890s, a teepee, a pit house and a log cabin.The museum is small but filled with info and a 5000 volume research library provides in depth info on SW archaeology and history. A gift shop has some unique handcrafted items plus books, T shirts, etc. There is a Kids Corner. Picnicking is allowed but no food is available to purchase on premises. Pamphlets on other attractions in the area are available.This is great place to get an overview of the Ancestral Pueblo culture. For $4 admission (less for seniors and adults) you get a lot for your money. The paved trail to Heritage Park and the Ruins is somewhat steep and could pose problems for wheelchairs or those with mobility issues. (There looked like there might be a way to drive there). If time is an issue, you could see everything in an hour if you hurried. Everything is self-guided, but staff is available if you seek them out and they are most helpful.

We were pressed for time and had decided to skip Chaco Canyon, but the Salmon Ruins were on our route to Sante Fe, so we stopped in. It's not a national park, but it's clearly well run by local people with limited resources. The self-guided tour of the ruins provides you with a wealth of information about the ancient peoples who lived and died there. Bring water and wear a hat because there is no shade.

We visited this site before going to Chaco Canyon, and we are glad we did. The self-guided tour was very informative. It cost $3 per person, which was worth every cent. The only thing that was difficult was the climb back to the car from the site. No problem for younger visitors, though. The museum was also very well done, despite the bees in the display cases. The office staff was also very helpful.

This is smaller than the Aztec Ruins, but well worth the effort. We got in late in the day and still had time to crawl over the entire area. Good price and nice people.

I noticed the sign on the road as I was heading to my work site and decided to stop on the way home. They close at 5 but you are allowed to walk around the site after closing. The ruins are in great shape and it is very interesting to see how the Indians lived in 1265. There is a $4 fee to enter but it is worthwhile. They have a mall gift shop that is worth checking out as well.

Great museum and gift shop. Go when it's cool outside. give it several hours if you have the time...................................

we visited the Salmon Ruins about 2 weeks ago; they were paving the highway from which you enter this site so maybe those who work there were not expecting visitors but we were there. They did not turn on any lights in the indoor area and while there is light that comes from the middle of the ceiling area (similar to a giant hogan) it is not sufficient to read the writing that describes the artifacts that you are looking at. Nobody seemed to be around, tho when we left a said "goodbye" to the room, somebody responded from an office. While there may be lots of interesting things in the cases, we could not learn very much from our visit. Many years ago we had been here and had seen the open air part which is in a valley adjacent to the museum; we did not venture down there this time.

We were given a guide book for a self-guide walk. Facts were interesting since not aware of the ruins. Make sure to wear good walking shoes as the ruins are a distance from the museum area. Glad the site is there and being preserved. Not a bad way to spend a few hours in the morning. Do recommend if visiting during the summer months to tour the ruins in the early morning hours as sun begins to feel very warm by the end of the walk. The Salmon homestead is interesting.

I visited these ancient ruins in preparation for my journey to Chaco Canyon. I would consider the Salmon Ruins a must for anyone interested in the history of this area.Your visit begins in the Visitors center where you'll check-in with a host who will give you a quick introduction to the layout of the site. Admission was $3.00 p/person.Once you leave the Visitors Center and Gift Shop, you'll walk out onto a patio where you can view much of the site. If you choose to walk down to the site, be prepared for a steep walk on a paved path. They also allow you to drive down the steep hill and start your visit that way.Your visit will probably last about an hour. Perhaps a bit more if you're a photographer.Staff: friendly and helpful. Be advised they're not always sitting at the front desk. A simple "Hello" will bring someone to the desk.

We learned about Salmon (pronounced saw-mun) Ruin from an archaeologist friend who studied the pottery at Chaco Canyon and mostly at Salmon Ruin. We went in honor of her, and stayed for well more than an hour because the visitor center/museum has incredibly informative displays. These were the kind of displays we were expecting at Chaco Canyon, but didn't have. So if you can't go to Chaco, you will learn a great deal and experience varied ruins (tho on a smaller scale) at Salmon. If you do go to Chaco (which we highly recommend — amazing expanse of ruins), then come here first for an orientation, or — like us — come here the next day to add meaning to what you saw. Also: contact Salmon Ruin about going on a private tour of Chaco Canyon — you leave Salmon about 9 am and get back to Bloomfield about 4 pm. Salmon is really just a couple of miles west of Bloomfield and the super nice, new Best Western Territorial Inn is the closest hotel to Chaco Canyon and to Salmon. If you want to do this, then get in touch with them day or days or weeks ahead of time.Besides pueblo ruins, Salmon Ruin also contains the pioneer homestead of George Salmon, a park with a teepee and other structures and picnic area, and of course a gift shop.

The site if free but is fairly small when compared with the Aztec National Monument just some 10 miles away. The site also less preserved though there is work underway to shore up walls and improve the site. Along with the Indian ruins there are some reconstruction of early settler buildings common to the area.

The museum is small but provides context for the ruins that are next to it. Learn about the construction and use of the various rooms and kivas. Finding the museum can be an issue as its signage pops up just at the top of a hill so be on the lookout or follow your GPS.