Sunday, March 9, 2025
Small Town Vibe
Population <1000

Abiquiú, NM: See why Artist Georgia O’Keeffe chose this as Home!

Small Town Vibe

Abiquiú, New Mexico

2020 Population: 181*

March 2023 / Updated February 2025: We learned about Georgia O’Keefe’s ties to northern New Mexico during a 2021 visit to the O’keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. In the spring of 2023, we made a point to stop by the tiny town of Abiquiú where she lived for over 30 years.

Abiquiú is a Census Designated Place (CDP). Although not an incorporated town (our typical criteria for sharing in our travel blog), it is a special and fascinating place to share with our readers! It is located along I84 on a direct driving path toward Santa Fe.

Abiquiú: A Brief History

Early Settlement

Abiquiú was first settled in 1742 by 24 Tewa Pueblo families led by a Roman Catholic priest. Their settlement in Abiquiú was part of the strategy by New Mexican colonists to defend its frontiers against marauding indigenous peoples such as the Apache, Comanche, and Navajo. Abiquiú was on the northern border of the Spanish settlements of New Mexico.

In 1754, to deal with the raids and the faltering settlement, New Mexico governor gave 34 genízaro families a land grant in exchange for them taking a prominent role in frontier defense. The genízaros were detribalized Native Americans from various tribes whose origin was typically as war captives to the Spanish. Because they had few rights under the casta laws of the Spanish, acceptance of land grants and resettlement on the dangerous frontier of New Mexico was the principal way for genízaros to become landowners. Many area residents still celebrate their genízaro heritage in the 21st century.

Throughout the 19th century, the residents of Abiquiú struggled to retain ownership of the 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) of land granted them in 1754. In 1894, their right to the land was validated in the United States Court of Private Land Claims. In 1969, additional land, previously designated as National Forest, was returned to the community.

Georgia O’Keeffe Arrives!

Artist Georgia O’Keeffe first traveled to Santa Fe in 1929, beginning a lifelong fascination with the New Mexico landscape and culture. In 1934 she visited and became infatuated with Ghost Ranch where she would spend summers creating her art. in 1940, she became the owner of a very small piece of Ghost Ranch land: a house and seven acres. 

Looking for more land and a garden, in 1945 O’Keeffe bought a second house, an abandoned adobe hacienda in Abiquiú, which she renovated into a home and studio. She moved permanently to New Mexico in 1949, spending time at both Ghost Ranch and the Abiquiú house that she made into her studio.

Portions of the house are believed to date to the 1730s, and it was in deteriorating condition when Georgia O’Keeffe first spotted it in the 1930s. At the time, it was owned by the Roman Catholic church, which did not want to sell it. It eventually relented, and O’Keeffe was able to purchase it in 1943. She undertook to rehabilitate and modernize the property, work that was a collaborative effort with her friend Maria Chabot. This work was completed in 1946, at which time O’Keeffe made it her permanent home. Included in the compound is a smaller outbuilding which was her principal studio space.

It is now part of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, which has sites in Santa Fe and Abiquiú. Public tours are available March–November, with advance tickets required. The Home and Studio became a National Historic Landmark in 1998, as one of the most important artistic sites in the southwestern United States. (source wikipedia and Ghost Ranch website)

Abiquiú in Popular Culture

Pop Culture Trivia: The colorful canyons and mountains near Abiquiú have been featured in numerous movies, including Red Dawn (1984), Silverado (1985), Lonesome Dove (1989), City Slickers (1991), The Last Outlaw (1993), Wyatt Earp (1994), The Wild Wild West (1999), All the Pretty Horses (2000), The Missing (2003), 3:10 to Yuma (2007), No Country For Old Men (2007), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), Cowboys & Aliens (2011) and The Lone Ranger (2013), and in the TV series Earth 2.

“Abiquiú” is the title of an episode of Breaking Bad. During the episode, a flashback shows Jesse Pinkman and Jane Margolis visiting a Georgia O’Keeffe exhibition, presumably the one in Abiquiú.

small town vibe

4 Things we loved about Abiquiú and surrounding areas!

This tiny town is ready for visitors! The hotel and restaurants are wonderful as you visit several truly amazing sites.

Abiquiú Area Guide

#1. Hiking on the historic Ghost Ranch, surrounded by stunning scenery!

We were drawn to Ghost Rach to discover what inspired so much of artist Georgia O’Keeffe’s later artwork. We found a particularly beautiful landscape, with amazing hiking trails and views. We also enjoyed the onsite museum, showcasing both its geological and cultural history.

The world‐famous site known as Ghost Ranch is a place of magnificent natural beauty, comprising deep, multicolored canyons and bluffs, plains, grasslands and streams. Its rocks span 130 million years of ancient geological history, representing lakes, floodplains, and deserts. Its fossils illuminate the beginning of the Age of Dinosaurs in North America and provide a new paradigm of how they took over terrestrial ecosystems for the next 150 years. Its archaeological record predates adobe walls and kivas; its hearths and other sites date to 8000 years ago.

Generously given to the Presbyterian Church in 1955 by philanthropists Phoebe and Arthur Pack, the Ranch preserves its heritage by harmonizing art, science, and spirituality.  In 2017, the operations of the ranch transitioned to the National Ghost Ranch Foundation, a standalone 501(c)3 non-profit organization(source: Ghost Ranch website)

#2. Georgia O’Keeffe’s Adobe home and studio tour is a highlight!

We visited the Georgia O’Keeffe Vistor Center, as well as take a tour of her 7000-square-foot adobe studio and home. Amazing! O’Keeffe is known for her clean “modern” lines of organic objects. It is so fascinating to us to see her design aesthetic in living form within her home and studio. And such beautiful views!

#3. We loved our Abiquiu Inn hotel and restaurant experience!

We stayed at the Abiquiú Inn and loved the beautiful rooms, the large spacious grounds, and our breakfast in their onsite restaurant!

#4. There are several religious-affiliated sites around town – soak in the beautiful architecture and scenery!

The area provides a unique intersection between Religious and Southwest architecture, surrounded by inspiring scenery. Bring your camera – there are lots of amazing photo opportunities! Or simply enjoy some peace and serenity in a variety of particularly beautiful settings.

More to Explore!

There is much to learn about Abiquiú with some online research

Events

  • January – Eagle Count: This annual bald eagle survey documents the number of seasonal bald and golden eagles at Abiquiú Lake.. Volunteers observe and document eagle sightings from fixed land points and watercraft. 
  • May – The Annual El Rito Arts Festival: Traditional artisans, fine art Studio Tours, music, food. Mid-May. See website for dates and map: elritoartassociation.org
  • July-August –
    • Rio Arriba County 4-H and FFA Fair: Contests of locally grown vegetables, fruits, and salsa; open livestock shows. Fun activities for all ages; local food and craft vendors; livestock auction. Sponsored by the Rio Arriba County Fair Association.
    • Fiesta of Santa Rosa de Lima: Celebrated with Mass in the chapel ruins. Spiritual leaders on horseback, carrying traditional bultos, lead a procession walking in prayer up to the Pueblo de Abiquiú. Food booths, music, and games on the plaza. Festivities end with a dance in the gym.
  • September – National Public Lands Day: Volunteers help revitalize public recreation areas with shoreline cleanup, native landscaping, and trail maintenance. Abiquiú Dam.
  • October – Abiquiú Studio Tour: Enjoy spectacular fall landscapes, local food, and art studios.  Free maps are available for the self-guided tour. 
  • November – Fiesta de Santo Tomás el Apostol: Genízaro ceremonial songs, prayers, and dances by youth and elders wearing traditional attire and celebrating their indigenous Native American heritage. Pueblo de Abiquiú.

Organizations that Support Community in Abiquiú

The people of Northern New Mexico lean into their amazing culture and history. The organizations below are some of the many groups that support and sustain this community.

Map of Abiquiu

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