Project

Built in 1629, San Esteban del Rey Mission at Acoma Pueblo combines traditional materials and building technology with European Renaissance architectural ideals. The mission is distinguished from others by its size and dominant setting on the edge of a 350-foot-high mesa. (...)

Built in 1629, San Esteban del Rey Mission at Acoma Pueblo combines traditional materials and building technology with European Renaissance architectural ideals. The mission is distinguished from others by its size and dominant setting on the edge of a 350-foot-high mesa. The seven-foot-thick walls of the church are constructed of adobe and stone, making it among the largest adobe buildings in the United States. The long timbers necessary for the construction of the roof were transported by the Acoma people from the sacred Mount Taylor, 30 miles to the north.

Although many missions were destroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, San Esteban survived and remains an important cultural site today. Throughout the 20th century, San Esteban del Rey was adapted and modified according to contemporary needs and prevailing views at the time regarding use of non-traditional materials. In the 1990s, there was a growing awareness that much of the work had been done with materials such as cement that over the long term were not appropriate and sustainable solutions. Further, local cultural agencies became concerned about the lack of documentation for many of these interventions. More recently, more traditional methods and materials have been employed to ensure more sympathetic and sustainable approaches to repairs, conservation, and ongoing maintenance. Further, all work undertaken through these efforts has been thoroughly documented so that the stewards of San Esteban del Rey and any future work at the site can be guided by these records.