| Yonder, yonder the fair rainbow, | | | | to every entry and only the finest quality |
| | | | work is represented. Visitors have the |
| See the rainbow brightly decked and painted! | | | | satisfaction of knowing that the profits from |
| | | | all purchases go directly to the native |
| Now the swallow bringeth glad news to your | | | | craftspeople. |
| corn... | | | | |
| | | | During the summer the center proudly features |
| Zuni corn-grinding song. | | | | Indian dances. The dances are wonderfully |
| | | | dexterous displays of colorful ancient |
| The rainbow, with its auspicious blending of | | | | skills. |
| colors, is the harbinger of good fortune in | | | | |
| many cultures. This is especially true of the | | | | The museum also boasts a restaurant that |
| native tribes in the rain-starved areas of | | | | serves first class native Indian food at very |
| the American southwest. | | | | reasonable prices. |
| | | | |
| Its the rainbow-like blending of cultures - | | | | Visitors traveling between Albuquerque and |
| Native Indian, Spanish and Anglo-American - | | | | beautiful Sante Fe, the state capital 100 |
| that enhances the "land of enchantment," the | | | | kilometers (60 miles) to the north, should |
| state of New Mexico. | | | | avoid the freeway and travel on Highway 14, |
| | | | the "Turquoise Trail." |
| Each culture has made a discernible | | | | |
| contribution to the state's food, music, | | | | A side trip to the 3,255 meter (10,678ft) |
| religion, art, architecture, traditions and | | | | high Sandia Crest is a must. From the |
| attitudes. | | | | summit's observation deck one has a |
| | | | 360-degree view encompassing 28,500 square |
| The native tribes of the southwest manifest | | | | kilometers (11,000 square miles). Sandia |
| an admirable pride in their culture and | | | | Peak, just below the crest, boasts fabulous |
| heritage and nowhere is that pride more in | | | | ski-ing and is directly accessible from |
| evidence than in the Indian Pueblo Cultural | | | | Albuquerque via a 4.3-kilometer (2.7 miles) |
| Center in the state's largest city, | | | | aerial tramway, the world's longest. |
| Albuquerque (population, 500,000). Owned and | | | | |
| operated by the Pueblo Tribes of New Mexico, | | | | Back on Highway 14 visitors will travel |
| the museum exhibits a vast collection that | | | | through a series of old ghost towns that have |
| traces the development of the pueblo culture. | | | | recently been reclaimed and settled by |
| The center is the richest resource for the | | | | artists and craftspeople. One such town, |
| study of America's first inhabitants in the | | | | Cerrillos, supported 21 saloons and four |
| southwest. | | | | hotels at its peak in the 1880s. The |
| | | | inhabitants were ranchers and the miners who |
| The lower level of the museum tells the story | | | | extracted gold, silver, lead, zinc and some |
| of the Pueblo Indians from prehistoric times | | | | of the world's finest turquoise - hence the |
| to the present through displays of ancient | | | | "Turquoise" Trail - from the nearby hills. |
| artifacts. The upper level is divided into 19 | | | | Now Cerrillos remains a picturesque reminder |
| alcoves, one for each of the region's pueblo | | | | of the Old West and has in fact been the |
| tribes, explaining their culture through | | | | setting for several western movies. |
| their art and crafts. | | | | |
| | | | Shakespeare may not have approved of adding |
| Officials of the center point with particular | | | | "another hue unto the rainbow", but the |
| pride to their collection of original | | | | "Turquoise" trail adds immeasurably to the |
| paintings, sculptures, pottery, jewelry, | | | | already colorful spectrum known as New |
| musical instruments and woven rugs. They | | | | Mexico. |
| emphasize that strict standards are applied | | | | |