San Esteban del Rey Mission exhibit opens

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

PUEBLO OF ACOMA — On Monday, the Haak’u Museum at the Sky City Cultural Center has an open reception/grand opening to the public to view the newest exhibit, “The Restoration of the San Esteban del Rey Mission.”

This exhibit offers a first-ever glimpse into the historical past and efforts to restore the centuries old Catholic Church that was first built at Sky City in A.D. 1629 and was completed in A.D. 1640.

There are never-seen-before architectural renderings, and photos of the church as well as a number of artifacts that make the trip and a visit more than worthwhile, it makes a visit almost necessary.

The reception is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the center, which will have refreshments and guided tours of the exhibit.

Reuben Noah, consulting curator, said some of the exhibits stem from the 1600s, including a magnificent Catholic priest’s vestments.

The vestments are still intact and feature silver thread adoring much of the cloth, which is dyed a pinkish color.

There are also original wooden beams with intricate designs carved into them that have bee preserved through the centuries.

Unique crucifix

“We have a crucifix with Jesus adorned in gold that no other museum in New Mexico has,” he said.

The crucifix shows a bearded Jesus on the cross with a golden cape draping over his left shoulder and green pants and boots.

“The conquistadors had this crucifix made in the image of the king of Spain, whom they thought of as God,” he said.

There are about 40 items on exhibit from the era, including a trowel and other items used to farm and make buildings, as well as two Spanish muskets and swords.

Photos of the church from decades ago show it beginning to crumble.

“When some of the older Acoma tribal members have come through here they point out things in the photos, say things like ‘I didn’t know that was there,’ speaking about specific things they saw,” Noah said.

One of the most interesting pieces in the exhibit might otherwise be missed if one did not know what it is — it is a “Vara stick.”

It is a stick that appears slightly more than 2 feet in length with five marks on it. The marks are the same distance from both ends of the stick, the first one about 4-5 inches, the second one about 12-14 inches and a center mark, exactly midway.

This stick, Noah said, was used in construction of everything in the pueblo for centuries.

There are a few things on loan to the exhibit from other New Mexico museums, but not many.

Educational opportunities

The museum staff is working on an informational activity booklet that can be given to students on field trips to the museum as they tour the exhibit.

All teachers in the area are encouraged to arrange for field trips for their students to be able to view part of history, architecture and Acoma culture.

The booklet allows the students to draw the church, answer questions, play a puzzle game and more.

Teachers are asked to contact the center at 1-800-747-0181 to schedule field trips at no cost to the schools.

Historical overview

During the years it took to construct the church by hand, under Spanish rule, the Acoma people were able to reach the top of the 370 feet high mesa only by a footpath.

They moved, by hand, 120 tons of rock, 250,000 gallons of water and 350 tons of earth from the valley floor.

Massive timber from Mount Taylor, more than 40 miles north of Sky City, were moved by hand as well, but not allowed to touch the ground during the trip.

The restoration of the church has been on going since 1911.

A fund has been established to receive charitable contributions, in the Pueblo of Acoma Historic Preservation Office (505) 552-9426.

Information: Maureen Chavez,
1-800-747-0181
On the net: www.acomaskycity.org.