On June 21st, 2023, Aztec Ruins National Monument and Chaco Culture National Historical Park welcomed the start of summer with Summer Solstice events.
At Chaco Culture NHP, Pueblo of Acoma Enchantment Dancers danced in the East Plaza of Pueblo Bonito to celebrate the solstice event. Special programs and a sunrise viewing event encouraged visitors to celebrate the solstice.
Several alignments within Chaco Canyon mark the summer solstice, but on this day, visitors were invited to watch as the sun rose and aligned with doorways at Casa Rinconada.
Each year the park offers this special experience to the first 100 visitors to arrive before sunrise. Stay tuned for the same opportunities during the Fall, Winter, and Spring!
Aztec Ruins National Monument also invited visitors to witness an alignment at Aztec West, where the sunrise aligns with the north wall of the building. This year, Aztec also hosted flute player Travis Jensen in the Great Kiva.
Each year, as the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun and the longest day of the year arrives, people gather at Chaco Canyon and Aztec Ruins to mark the special occasion.
Thousands of years ago, the ancestral peoples who watched the skies may have made similar pilgrimages to these places. As each solstice and equinox passes, we are grateful to them for sharing their knowledge and sacred places with us.