Foster Dogs' Namesakes: Salinas

Entrance sign to one of the 3 separate units that make up this National Monument

Our beautiful and sweet foster dog Salinas is named after a very beautiful historic place called the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. The name "Salinas" originates from the fact that this area had several dried up salt bed lakes and the Pueblo peoples who populated the area starting in around 1100-1200 AD traded salt with the tribal people of the plains. It was a major trading center at the edge of the Pueblo lands which is why in the 1600's the Spanish set up several missions in the populated area.

Gran Quivira ruins

Inside the Gran Quivira Mission

Gran Quivira - pueblo in front, mission in the background. This is one of the rare National Park units that allows dogs on the paths

Large Mission churches were built around 1640 with native labor, and the converts to Catholicism built small communities adjacent to the churches. The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument was first created to protect the Gran Quivira Ruins in 1909 and in 1980 it was expanded to protect the Quarai and Abo ruins as well. At the National Monument you can wander through the ruins of the mission churches and also see the footprints of the neighboring Pueblos. It's an absolutely gorgeous landscape and well worth a visit.

Quarai Mission seen from the footprint area of the Quarai Pueblo

Inside the sanctuary of the Quarai Mission Church

Abo Mission Ruins

We're having fun but can't wait for a few Salinas kisses when we return home.

Stay tuned for our visit to past foster dog Kasha's namesake...