OUR MISSION
The Mission of the Friends of Coronado and Jemez Historic Site is to support the conservation and restoration of historical assets and museum exhibits, and to promote through community outreach, the historical and cultural significance of the Coronado and Jemez Historic Sites – including the ancestral pueblos of Kuaua and Giusewa, the Coronado Expedition, and the Mission of San Jose de los Jemez.
Who We Are
We are a tax-exempt group supporting two State Historic Sites; the ancient village of Kuaua (Ka-wa-wa, circa 1300 AD) on the Rio Grande; and the Jemez Historic site of the village of Gisewa in the Jemez Mountains. More than that, we are an eclectic group of about 400 fun-loving people who delve deeply into southwestern history, archaeology, geology, anthropology. 
 
We mix in the excitement of wandering remote areas not always available to the public. We also provide lectures, field trips, workshops and behind-the-scenes tours of museums and art centers, guided wilderness hikes, social gatherings, and opportunities to support the Historic Sites physically and financially.
 

Above all, we have fun!
 
Over the years (we have been helping the Coronado Historic Site since 2003, the Jemez site more recently), we have provided tens of thousands of volunteer hours and accounted for thousands of dollars of financial assistance from our members, Gift Shop sales, fund-drives and legislative supporters. 
 
We are the Docents, the shop volunteers, the trail workers, the archaeological diggers, the event planners, the Zoom lecture managers, the researchers and Board members-
all of whom support the sites on a purely volunteer basis.

Historic Sites
Coronado Historic Site
Coronado Historic Site preserves and interprets an archaeological site of first-contact between Hispanic explorers and Native Puebloans.
The historic site includes 500-year-old kiva murals and a reconstructed 15th century kiva, providing a glimpse into the religious life of Tiwa people. Friends members offer docent-led tours daily, during normal hours, along with a number of members-only activities throughout the year. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit our Membership page.
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More information about Coronado Historic Site's rich history may be found at Department of Cultural Affairs.
Jemez Historic Site
A short drive from Albuquerque and Bernalillo, the Jemez National Historic Landmark is one of the most beautiful state historic sites in the Southwest. It includes stone ruins of a 400-year-old church dating to 1621 and ancient village of Giusewa.
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An adjacent heritage center contains exhibits that tell the story of the site through the words of the Jemez people.
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Friends members help with events such as Lights of Gisewa and even archaeological digs, among other opportunities. For a full list of benefits visit our Membership page.
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More information about Coronado Historic Site's rich history may be found at Department of Cultural Affairs.
Coronado and Jemez are part of six NM heritage sites supported by the Friends and administered by New Mexico Historic Sites, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. The Friends support both sites with volunteer activities and fund raising
Gift Shops
Both Coronado and Jemez Historic Sites The Sun Father’s Gift Shop is operated by the Friends of Coronado Historic Site, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The gift shop is located on premises at the Coronado Historic Site in Bernalillo, New Mexico, about 24 minutes north of Albuquerque.
Friends members have the opportunity of volunteering at either the Sun Father's Gift Shop or Jemez Gift Shop, where they engage with people from all over the world. Volunteers also receive a discount on full price items at the shop.
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