New Mexico

Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo was built in the 1200s and has been continuously inhabited longer than any other building in the US.

When New Mexico first showed interest in statehood, some in Congress were reluctant, thinking it couldn't be "truly American" because of its high percentage of Hispanics and Native Americans, with their specific languages and customs.

During WWII, 400,000 Mexican-Americans served, the highest percentage of any other ethnic group.

Seismosaurus

New Mexico's fossil record is one of the US's best, with hundreds of dinosaur skeletons of all types and sizes.  These include Seismosaurus ("earth shaker"), among the largest of all dinosaurs at up to 110' long.

More people are killed by lightning in New Mexico than in any other state.

New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics of any other state, a term that can include descendants of Spanish colonists as well as recent immigrants.

Capitol Building

New Mexico state flag

The New Mexico capitol building is the only round capitol in the US.  It was designed to resemble the Zia sun symbol, which is 
on the state flag.


The tin ceiling in the St. James Hotel in Cimarron still has 20 bullet holes from the old Wild West days.