Zuni Olla Maidens dance with beautiful pots delicately balanced on their heads.

Albuquerque is a great place to shop for handcrafted gifts.

Western culture is alive and well in Albuquerque, where you can buy a cowboy hat just for show, or vacation on a working ranch.

Dancers at the annual Mariachi Spectacular continue a rich Mexican tradition.

Acoma Pueblo, one hour west of Albuquerque, is the oldest continually inhabited community in North America. Guided tours are available.

During late summer and early fall, freshly harvested green chiles are roasted at grocery stores and roadside stands.

Beautiful hand-crafted turquoise jewelry is a rich tradition among the Native Americans of the Southwest.

At Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque researchers work on science-based technologies to benefit national security.

Navajo girls enter the State Fair parade competition in traditional dress.

Western rodeo events happen in Albuquerque many times during the year.

Luminarias (paper bags filled with sand and a candle) line the walkways and rooftops of many homes and businesses during the winter holiday season. It is a tradition followed by villages and communities all along the Rio Grande.

Members of the five military branches are represented in a ceremony at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, near Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque.

Eagle Dancers demonstrate a traditional Pueblo dance.

Freshly harvested red chiles are tied into ristras and hung in the sun to dry. Later the dried chiles are used to make our distinctive red chile sauce.

Pueblo Indians still bake bread in mud brick ovens called hornos.

Traditional rug weaving competitions and demonstrations take place every year at the New Mexico State Fair.

Native American dancers perform every weekend at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

When a tragic accident results in a death on the roadway, family members often erect a small memorial called a descanso, or "resting place."

Mariachi performers have long been a part of Albuquerque's culture and often perform in restaurants, at special festivals and weddings.

The New Mexico State Fair provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to experience all of the influences that contribute to Albuquerque's diverse cultural blend.

Traditional Mexican Dance